Tennessee Code Title 65. Public Utilities and Carriers § 65-4-203

(a) The commission shall not grant a certificate for a proposed route, plant, line, or system, or extension thereof, which will be in competition with any other route, plant, line, or system, unless it shall first determine that the facilities of the existing route, plant, line, or system are inadequate to meet the reasonable needs of the public, or the public utility operating the same refuses or neglects or is unable to or has refused or neglected, after reasonable opportunity after notice, to make such additions and extensions as may reasonably be required under this part.

(b) In all proceedings under this section, the commission shall give at least ten (10) days' notice to the authorities of, and the public utilities operating in, the municipality or territory affected.

(c) This section shall not apply to telecommunications service providers.