Results of the Objective Criteria Test CenturyTel and Roome provided calling pattern data for the Shedd and Halsey telephone exchanges. Staff reviewed the data and determined that the interexchange route narrowly failed the Commission's objective community of interest criteria. See Order Nos. The proposed interexchange route satisfied the first two criteria, as the Shedd and Halsey exchanges are contiguous and an average of 4.62 toll calls per month were placed between the exchanges. The route, however, failed the final criterion, as only 44.54 percent of Shedd customers made at least two toll calls per month to the Halsey exchange.
Many Shedd residents engage in a variety of toll avoidance practices.
Residents often avoid toll calls by combining a trip to the Halsey exchange with their telephone activities. Given the short distance between the areas, many residents simply find it less expensive to travel to Halsey rather than make a toll call. Many farmers have purchased business radios to make calls between the Shedd and Halsey exchanges. Others residents rely on cellular phones. The question presented in this proceeding, therefore, is whether the petitioners have established, through demographic, economic and other evidence, that a community of interest exists between those exchanges despite the failure of the objective criteria test.