The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2025 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
§ 2701. Transfer of messages and interchange of service
Whenever the Commission, after a hearing had upon its own motion or upon complaint,
finds that a physical connection can reasonably be made between the lines of two or
more telephone companies or two or more telegraph companies whose lines can be made
to form a continuous line of communication, by the construction and maintenance of
suitable connections, for the transfer of messages or conversations, and that public
convenience and necessity will be subserved thereby, or finds that two or more telegraph
or telephone companies have failed to establish joint rates, tolls, or charges for
service by or over their lines, and that joint rates, tolls, or charges ought to be
established, the Commission may, by its order, (a) require that the connection be
made, except where the purpose of the connection is primarily to secure the transmission
of local messages or conversations between points within the same city or town, and
that conversations be transmitted and messages transferred over the connection under
the rules as the Commission may establish, and (b) may prescribe through lines and
joint rates, tolls, and charges to be made and to be used, observed, and enforced
in the future. If the telephone or telegraph companies do not agree upon the division
of the joint rates, tolls, or charges established by the Commission over the through
lines, the Commission may, after further hearing, establish the division by supplemental
order. (Amended 1961, No. 180, § 2; 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 397, eff. July 1, 2024.)
§ 2702. Repealed. 1995, No. 99 (Adj. Sess.), § 16(2).
§ 2703. Telephone service
On application of a telegraph or telephone company and upon reasonable terms, a person
or corporation owning, controlling, or operating a telephone exchange or service in
this State shall furnish such applicant with the use of a telephone or telephones,
and telephonic service and connection with the respective exchanges and the subscribers,
without discriminating between telegraph or telephone companies as to the connection,
service, or use of instruments furnished or charges made. (Amended 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 398, eff. July 1, 2024.)
§ 2704. Discrimination prohibited
On application of a person or corporation and tender of the charges or rental sum
usual or customary for the class of service required, without discrimination for the
same class of service rendered, a person or corporation owning, controlling, or operating
a telephone exchange or service in this State shall furnish the applicant with the
use of a telephone and telephonic service and connection with their respective exchanges
and subscribers. (Amended 1961, No. 180, § 3; 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 399, eff. July 1, 2024.)
§ 2705. Repealed. 1995, No. 99 (Adj. Sess.), § 16(3).
§ 2706. Transmission of telephone messages
A person owning, hiring, or leasing a telephone shall have the right to transmit by
telephone to any telegraph company using a telephone, a message to be forwarded by
telegraph, and also the right to receive from such telegraph company over such telephone
wires, messages received by telegraph for such individual.