Mississippi Code Title 77. Public Utilities and Carriers § 77-9-719

All telephone lines, exchanges and properties in any county of the State of Mississippi may be consolidated and merged so as to create and establish a telephone system in such county and to enable all patrons of such telephone properties to secure telephonic service over and through one system. When such merger and consolidation of the said telephone properties shall have been effected it shall be done in such manner as to eliminate all telephone exchanges of the said constituent companies in such consolidation or merger in such county saving and excepting one system of exchanges. When such consolidation and merger shall have been effected, the same shall be done in such manner as to provide one central telephone exchange in each of the municipalities situated in the county, in which such consolidation and merger shall have been effected.