Miss. Code Ann. § 77-9-723

Nothing in Sections 77-9-719 and 77-9-721, shall be construed so as to require and compel any rural telephone system now being operated in any of the counties of the State of Mississippi, or that may be hereafter established in any of the said counties, to merge and consolidate with each other, or with any other telephone system now being operated in said counties. Nothing in said sections shall be construed so as to require telephone systems being operated and maintained by local communities for the use and benefit of the localities or communities only, to merge and consolidate with each other, or with other telephone systems.