(a) After the commission grants an application for a certificate of convenience and necessity, a certificate of operating authority, or a service provider certificate of operating authority or determines that a certificate is not needed for the applicant to provide the relevant services, the commission shall conduct appropriate proceedings to establish a transitional flexibility plan for the incumbent local exchange company in the same area or areas as the new certificate holder.
(b) A basic local telecommunications service price of the incumbent local exchange company may not be increased before the fourth anniversary of the date the certificate is granted to the applicant except that the price may be increased as provided by this title.