The commission may designate an appropriate entity to be the sole entity entitled to use the 2-1-1 telephone number assigned by the Federal Communications Commission to be used for access to information and referral services. A designation may not extend for more than 3 years but may be renewed by the commission, after review, for successive periods of up to 3 years each. There is no limit on the number of times the commission may renew a designation of the same entity pursuant to this section. Before making a designation or renewing a designation, the commission shall determine that the designation or renewal is in the public interest. The commission may consult with appropriate state and local agencies and other public or private entities before granting a designation or renewing a designation. The commission may suspend, revoke, terminate or modify a designation if the commission determines the public interest is no longer served by the designation or in response to actions by the Federal Communications Commission that affect the availability or assigned use of the 2-1-1 number.   [PL 2005, c. 51, §1 (NEW).]