Once an intrastate or interstate pipeline commences self-implementing transportation services under Section 311 of the NGPA, it becomes an OPEN ACCESS TRANSPORTER and must then provide transportation services on an open access, nondiscriminatory basis and comply with the regulations set forth in Part 284 of the Commission's regulations. In addition, once an interstate pipeline accepts a Part 284 blanket certificate, it is then an open access transporter. A pipeline which is "open" under Section 311 may terminate such service and "close" its system. However, once a pipeline accepts a blanket, it may not terminate open access services without first receiving Commission authorization to abandon its blanket certificate.

This definition is in context to Natural Gas. See more contextual defintions for Open Access Transporter.