(a) The maximum amount of privilege or license tax which the several municipalities within this state may annually assess and collect of persons operating telephone exchanges and long distance telephone lines in this state for the privilege of doing intrastate business within the limits of such municipalities, whether such persons are incorporated under the laws of this state or any other state, is fixed as follows:
(1) In municipalities having not exceeding 500 inhabitants, exchange license, $15.00, long distance license, $8.00;
(2) In municipalities having a population of more than 500 and not exceeding 1,000, exchange license, $30.00, long distance license, $8.00;
(3) In municipalities having a population of more than 1,000 and not exceeding 2,000, exchange license, $60.00, long distance license, $15.00;
(4) In municipalities having a population of more than 2,000 and not exceeding 3,000, exchange license, $105.00, long distance license, $27.00;
(5) In municipalities having a population of more than 3,000 and not exceeding 4,000, exchange license, $150.00, long distance license, $38.00;
(6) In municipalities having a population of more than 4,000 and not exceeding 5,000, exchange license, $210.00, long distance license, $53.00;
(7) In municipalities having a population of more than 5,000 and not exceeding 6,000, exchange license, $270.00, long distance license, $68.00;
(8) In municipalities having a population of more than 6,000 and not exceeding 7,000, exchange license, $330.00, long distance license, $83.00;
(9) In municipalities having a population of more than 7,000 and not exceeding 8,000, exchange license, $390.00, long distance license, $98.00;
(10) In municipalities having a population of more than 8,000 and not exceeding 9,000, exchange license, $450.00, long distance license, $113.00;
(11) In municipalities having a population of more than 9,000 and not exceeding 10,000, exchange license, $510.00, long distance license, $128.00;
(12) In municipalities having a population of more than 10,000 and not exceeding 11,000, exchange license, $570.00, long distance license, $143.00;
(13) In municipalities having a population of more than 11,000 and not exceeding 12,000, exchange license, $630.00, long distance license, $158.00;
(14) In municipalities having a population of more than 12,000 and not exceeding 13,000, exchange license, $690.00, long distance license, $173.00;
(15) In municipalities having a population of more than 13,000 and not exceeding 14,000, exchange license, $750.00, long distance license, $188.00;
(16) In municipalities having a population of more than 14,000 and not exceeding 15,000, exchange license, $800.00, long distance license, $203.00;
(17) In municipalities having a population of more than 15,000 and not exceeding 16,000, exchange license, $870.00, long distance license, $210.00;
(18) In municipalities having a population of more than 16,000 and not exceeding 17,000, exchange license, $920.00, long distance license, $233.00;
(19) In municipalities having a population of more than 17,000 and not exceeding 18,000, exchange license, $990.00, long distance license, $248.00;
(20) In municipalities having a population of more than 18,000 and not exceeding 19,000, exchange license, $1,050.00, long distance license, $263.00;
(21) In municipalities having a population of more than 19,000 and not exceeding 20,000, exchange license, $1,110.00, long distance license, $278.00;
(22) In municipalities having a population of more than 20,000 and less than 175,000, exchange license, $1,110.00 for the first 20,000 inhabitants and $60.00 for each additional 1,000 inhabitants or majority fraction thereof, up to 175,000 population; long distance license, $278.00 for the first 20,000, and $15.00 for each additional 1,000, or majority fraction thereof, up to 175,000 population; and
(23) In municipalities having a population of more than 175,000, exchange license, $12,000, long distance license, $3,000.00.
(b) In arriving at the assessment of privilege or license tax which may be assessed and collected under subsection (a) of this section, the population of the several cities and towns shall be computed and based on the federal census next preceding the year for which such license tax is assessed from year to year; provided, that if a municipality should be incorporated subsequent to any federal census the population shown in the charter of incorporation shall determine the amount of license due until the next federal census shall find and declare such population.