(a) The commission shall develop, implement, and maintain a suitable program to establish a fair and equitable local rate structure aided by universal service rate support to small independent telephone corporations that serve rural areas and are subject to rate-of-return regulation by the commission. The purpose of the program shall be to promote the goals of universal telephone service and to reduce any disparity in the rates charged by those companies.
(b) For purposes of this section, “small independent telephone corporations” means those independent telephone corporations serving rural areas that are subject to rate-of-return regulation by the commission, as determined by the commission.
(c) The commission shall structure the programs required by this section so that any charge imposed to promote the goals of universal service reasonably equals the value of the benefits of universal service to contributing entities and their subscribers.
(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2015, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2015, deletes or extends that date.