No local exchange service carrier shall discontinue, reduce or limit the total or partial service of a community without effective competition due to lack of profitability in the operation of said service unless it has a valid authorization from the Board for said discontinuation, reduction or limitation. The Board shall grant said authorization if it determines that the same does not violate the purposes of this chapter. If the Board should deny a petition to discontinue, reduce or limit the total or partial service of a community, the local exchange service carrier shall be entitled to request or to continue to receive from the Board, fair and adequate compensation under the universal service program to continue rendering those services that are eligible to receive funds from said program. Any action that implies or causes a violation of this section or the regulations adopted by the Board shall be null ab initio. The provisions of this section shall not apply to services subject to effective competition. History —Sept. 12, 1996, No. 213, § III-3.
Puerto Rico Legal Code