(a) A duly authorized agent of the telephone corporation may enter any dwelling, building or other location supplied with service by the telephone corporation for the purposes of inspecting and examining the wires and other apparatus furnished by the telephone corporation and leased by customers for ascertaining any service-affecting problems on a nonholiday workday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., or at such other reasonable times as requested by a customer. At such time, the agent shall exhibit a photo-identification badge signed by the president or vice-president of the telephone corporation.

(b) The provisions of subdivision (a) of this section shall not apply to the inspection and examination of any such equipment where an emergency may threaten the health and safety of a person, the surrounding area, or the telephone corporation's distribution system.

(c) An agent of the telephone corporation otherwise duly authorized to inspect and examine apparatus, may not enter locked premises without the permission of the person lawfully in control on the premises, nor use any manner of force to carry out inspection and examination, except when an emergency may threaten the health or safety of a person, the surrounding area, or the telephone corporation's distribution system, or where authorized by a court order.