20150728Comments.pdf

KARL T. KLEIN
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
PO BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074
(208) 334-03t2
IDAHO BARNO.5156
Street Address for Express Mail:
472 W. WASHINGTON
BOISE, IDAHO 83702-5918
Attorney for the Commission Staff
IN THE MATTER OF ALBION TELEPHONE
COMPANY'S PETITION FOR ORDER
APPROVING ITS: (1) ACQUISITION OF'A
AF'FILIATED LONG.DISTANCE COMPANY'S
ASSETS; (2) USE OF THOSE ASSETS TO
PROVIDE LONG.DISTANCE SERVICES; AND
(3) ASSOCTATED PRrCE LrST.
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BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
CASE NO. ALB-T-T5-02
COMMENTS OF THE
COMMISSION STAFF
The Staff of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission comments as follows on Albion
Telephone Company's Petition.
BACKGROUND
On June 9,2015, Albion Telephone Company (the "Company") petitioned the Commission
for an Order approving its: (l) acquisition of certain assets of ATC Long Distance, Inc. (a now
dissolved, affiliated Title 62 company); (2) use of those assets to provide non-regulated long-
distance service; and (3) adoption of the price list that ATC Long Distance, Inc. previously filed
with the Commission.
The Company is a Commission-regulated Title 61 telephone corporation. The Company's
Petition explains that in February 2014, ATC Long Distance, Inc.'s shareholders voted to dissolve
ATC Long Distance and transfer its assets to Albion Telephone Company so the Company could
provide the long-distance services that its affiliate ATC Long Distance had been providing. ATC
Long Distance filed Articles of Dissolution with the Idaho Secretary of State on April 8,2014.
STAFF COMMENTS JULY 29,20t5
The Petition explains that the Company has been providing long-distance services in
accordance with the price list that ATC Long Distance previously filed with the Commission. As
part of its Petition, the Company has submitted the same price list in the Company's name. The
Company asks the Commission to approve this price list with a March 7,2014 effective date (which
is the date on which ATC Long Distance's President signed the Articles of Dissolution).
The Petition states that the Company's acquisition of ATC Long Distance, Inc.'s assets and
provision of non-regulated long-distance services will have little, if any, impact on the Company's
current customers. The Company will continue to provide these customers with the same regulated
services at the same prices. The Company will also continue to offer long-distance services to ATC
Long Distance, Inc.'s former customers at the same prices. There is, therefore, no interruption in
service or change in billing practices. The Company states that it separately manages and accounts
for its revenues and expenses from non-regulated long-distance services and its revenues and
expenses from regulated services.
STAFF ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATION
Staff has reviewed the Petition along with the Affidavit of Richard L. Redman certifying
"that all revenues and expenses for the non-regulated long distance services are kept and managed
separate and apart from the revenues and expenses ofthe regulated services provided by the
Company under the following general ledger accounts: Revenue 7990.63-7990.68; Expenses:
7991.60-7991 .62." Staff recommends the Company be required to continue maintaining separate
non-regulated accounts. Staff, therefore, recommends Commission approval for: (l) acquisition of
certain assets of ATC Long Distance, Inc. (a now dissolved, affiliated Title 62 company); (2) use of
those assets to provide non-regulated long-distance service; and (3) adoption of the price list that
ATC Long Distance, Inc. previously filed with the Commission.
Respectfully submitted this Z f n-day of July 2015.
ftl / /L*
Karl T. Klein
Deputy Attorney General
Technical Staff: Grace Seaman
Terri Carlock
: umisc/comments/albt I 5.2kkgstc comments
STAFF COMMENTS JULY 29,2015
CERTIFICATE OF SERYICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT I HAVE THIS 28S DAY OF ruLY 2015, SERVED
THE FOREGOING COMMENTS OF THE COMMISSION STAFF, IN CASE
NO. ALB-T.15-02, BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO THE
FOLLOWING:
CYNTHIA A MELILLO PLLC
PO BOX 829
BOrSE rD 83701,0829
E-MAIL : cam(d.carrlawidaho. com
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE