(1) Sections 69-3-1001 through 69-3-1006 apply to providers of regulated local telecommunications services with more than 50,000 subscribers.
(2) Regulated providers of local telecommunications services with fewer than 50,000 subscribers may petition the public service commission to participate in or withdraw from the low-income telephone assistance program. The public service commission shall grant a petition to participate in or withdraw from the low-income telephone assistance program unless federal requirements for obtaining matching federal low-income telephone assistance require otherwise.