20110809final_order_no_32320.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
August 9,201 1
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION )OF ALBION TELEPHONE COMPANY FOR )CASE NO.ALB-T-11-01
AN INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT FOR )
INSTALLING QUALIFYING BROADBAND )ORDER NO.32320
EQUIPMENT )
On July 19,2011,Albion Telephone Company filed an Application requesting
approval of equipment as eligible for a broadband tax credit pursuant to Order No.28784 and
Idaho Code §63-30291(4).To be eligible for the tax credit,the taxpayer must obtain an Order
from the Commission confirming that the equipment has been installed and that it meets the
definition of qualified broadband equipment set out in fdalio Code §63-3029I(3)(b).Qualified
broadband equipment must be capable of transmitting signals at a rate of at least 200,000 bits per
second (bps)to a subscriber and at least 125,000 bps from a subscriber.If installed by a
telecommunications carrier,the qualified broadband equipment must also “be necessary to the
provision of broadband service and an integral part of a broadband network.”Idaho Code §63-
30291(3)(b)(i).In this Order,we find that the Company’s investment meets the applicable
standards.
THE APPLICATION
Albion’s Application lists the broadband investments made during calendar year 2011
in the Idaho counties of Butte,Cassia,Custer,and Oneida.The Company states that it
“continued to deploy fiber in the ioop,install Digital Loop Carrier systems with 12,000-foot
loops and [is]developing a fiber backbone that will have the ability to handle huge amounts of
data.”In 2010,the Company added 9 miles of copper and 73 miles of fiber cable.Albion states
it provides various subscriber line services (ADSL,IDSL,HDSL,and SDSL)to its customers at
network transmission rates of 256 Kbps to 6 Mbps and the service is available to 99%of its
customers.The Albion 2010 broadband investment is approximately $2 million.
STAFF REVIEW
To implement its responsibilities under Idaho Code §63-30291,the Commission
issued Procedural Order No.28784 in July 2001.This Order identifies information that must be
included in an application for a broadband tax credit.Once the information is filed with the
ORDER NO.32320 1
Commission,Staff reviews the application and submits a recommendation to the Commission.
Staff has reviewed the list of proposed broadband equipment submitted by Albion and believes
that the equipment identified meets the statutory criteria.Staff therefore recommended approval
of the Application and further recommended that the Commission forward an approving Order
along with a copy of the original Application to the Idaho State Tax Commission.
COMMISSION FINDINGS
Based upon our review of the Application and the recommendations of the Staff,we
find that the Application for a qualifying broadband equipment Order should be granted.Albion
has adequately demonstrated that the equipment identified in its Application meets the statutory
standards for qualifying broadband equipment subject to the tax credit.We further find that
Albion is a telecommunications carrier and,as presently configured,the installed equipment is
an integral part of the Company’s broadband network and that it is necessary to facilitate the
delivery of broadband Internet service to Idaho customers.It is therefore appropriate for the
Commission to issue this Order confirming that the equipment identified in Albion’s Application
is qualified broadband equipment as defined in Idaho Code §63-3029!.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Albion Telephone Company’s Application for an
Order certifying that it installed qualifying broadband equipment during 2010 is granted.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a copy of this Order and a copy of Albion’s
Application be served upon the Idaho State Tax Commission.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER.Any person interested in this Order (or in issues finally
decided by this Order)may petition for reconsideration within twenty-one (21)days of the
service date of this Order with regard to any matter decided in this Order.Within seven (7)days
after any person has petitioned for reconsideration,any other person may cross-petition for
reconsideration.Idaho Code §S 61-626,63-30291(4).
ORDER O.32320 2
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise,Idaho this (7’
day of August 2011
ATTEST:
/
MACK A.REDFORD,COMMISSIONER
V
J A !J )-L._-
MARSHA H.SMITH,COMMISSIONER
I/
éán D.Jewe11j
mmission Secretary
bls/():ALB-T-1 1-Olws
R,PRESIDENT
ORDER NO.32320 3