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.