20080225Comments.pdf

NEIL PRICE
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
PO BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074
[phone]
IDAHO BAR NO. 6864
i,-.~..
fEB 25 Mî H: 04
Street Address for Express Mail:
472 W. WASHINGTON
BOISE, IDAHO 83702-5983
Attorney for the Commission Staff
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF )
BUDGET PREPAY, INC. DBA BUDGET PHONE)
FOR A CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC )
CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY TO )
PROVIDE LOCAL EXCHANGE AND )
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES )
)
CASE NO. BPP-T-07-1
COMMENTS OF THE
COMMISSION STAFF
COMES NOW the Staff of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, by and through its
Attorney of record, Neil Price, Deputy Attorney General, and in response to the Notice of
Application and Notice of Modified Procedure in Order No. 30496 issued on Februar 4,2008,
submits the following comments.
BACKGROUND
On November 14,2007, Budget Prepay, Inc. dba Budget Phone ("Budget") filed an
Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to provide basic local telephone
exchange service throughout the State of Idaho pursuant to Commission Order No. 26665.
Budget wil provide resold local exchange and interexchange telecommunications services
within the State of Idaho. Budget will provide these services by utilzing the facilities of incumbent
local exchange cariers ("ILECs") already operating within Idaho, including Qwest and Verizon.
STAFF COMMENTS 1 FEBRUARY 25, 2008
Budget's service territory within Idaho wil include all areas within Idaho, except those
areas curently being serviced by local exchange carers ("LECs") which are eligible for a small or
rual carier exemption pursuant to Section 251 of the Federal Telecom Act of 1996.
STAFF REVIEW
Budget initially proposes to offer resold local exchange services and to purchase
unbundled network elements. The Company states it has no curent plans to install facilties in
Idaho, but may do so in the future. Budget intends to make available all forms of intrastate local
exchange and interexchange telecommunications services to business and residential customers.
The Company is headquarered in Bossier City, Louisiana and incorporated in Louisiana.
Budget obtained a Certificate of Authority to transact business as a foreign corporation from the
Idaho Secreta of State on August 9,2007. The Company also provided the appropriate contact
information for its registered agent for service of process within Idaho.
Budget fuished audited financial statements for 2006 and 2007 and an ilustrative taff
with its Application that demonstrates an understanding of tariff requirements and processes.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Based upon the review of the Company Application, Staff believes Budget Prepay, Inc.
understands and agrees to comply with the Commission Rules of Procedure 111, IDAPA
31.01.01.111, and Procedural Order No. 26665. Staff believes that the Company possesses the
requisite financial, managerial, and techncal qualifications necessar to operate as a
telecommunications service provider. Staff recommends approval of the Application for Certificate
of Public Convenience and Necessity.
Respectfully submitted this d-r;~ day of Februar 2008.
~SL~
Niil Price
Deputy Attorney General
Technical Staff: Grace Seaman
i:/umisc/comments/bppt07. i npgs
STAFF COMMENTS 2 FEBRUARY 25, 2008
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT I HAVE THIS 25TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2008,
SERVED THE FOREGOING COMMENTS OF THE COMMISSION STAFF, IN
CASE NO. BPP-T-07-01, BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF, POSTAGE PREPAID,
TO THE FOLLOWING:
LANCE JM STEINHART
ATTORNEY AT LAW
SUITE 115
1720 WINDWARD CONCOURSE
ALPHARETTA GA 30005
BUDGET PREP A Y INC
DBA BUDGET PHONE COMPANY
1325 BARKSDALE BLVD
BOSSIER CITY LA 71111
~~-SECRETA Y
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE