Sec. 55.023.  OPTIONAL EXTENDED AREA SERVICE.  (a)  The commission may order optional extended area service in a specified calling area if:
(1)  each affected company and the representatives of at least one political subdivision in the proposed calling area agree to the service;  and
(2)  the proposed common calling area has a single, continuous boundary.
(b)  The commission may not adopt rules that diminish in any manner the ability of an affected company or a political subdivision to enter into joint agreements for optional extended area service under this section.
(c)  In this section, "political subdivision" means:
(1)  a county;
(2)  a municipality;  or
(3)  an unincorporated town or village that has 275 or more access lines.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.