§37-9-17. Certificates for common carriers and permits for contract carriers - Application; notice and public hearing on application; investigations to determine need for additional air transportation; institution of proceedings to furnish additional services determined necessary.

(a) Applications for certificates and permits shall be made in writing to the commission, be verified under oath and shall be in such form and contain such information and be accompanied by proof of service upon such interested parties as the commission shall, by regulation, require.

(b) Upon the filing of applications for certificates or permits, the commission shall give due notice thereof:

(1) To the public by posting a notice of such application in the office of the secretary of the commission; and

(2) To such persons and by such means as the commission may by reasonable regulation determine.

Any interested person may file with the commission a protest or memo of opposition to or in support of the issuance of a certificate or permit. A public hearing shall be held on such application if the applicant or any person having a substantial interest in the proceeding shall so request within such time as the commission shall by reasonable regulation provide, unless the commission be of the opinion that such request be not made in good faith or made for the purpose of delay, in which case the commission shall set forth in writing their reasons for such refusal.

(c) The commission, upon its own initiative, whenever it deems such action advisable, may conduct an investigation to determine whether additional air transportation appears to be needed, and if, after such investigation, the commission is of the opinion that such procedure is appropriate, it may encourage the filing of applications for certificates authorizing the furnishing of such transportation. If such transportation may be furnished through the extension of existing service, the commission may institute a proceeding to require such extension in accordance with the provisions of Section 37-9-22.

(Acts 1945, No. 269, p. 414, §8.)