20090929final_order_no_30910.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
September 29, 2009
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF
CENTURYTEL OF IDAHO, INc., FOR AN
INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT FOR
INSTALLING QUALIFIED BROADBAND
EQUIPMENT.
CASE NO. CEN-09-
ORDER NO. 30910
On September 11 , 2009, CenturyTel of Idaho, Inc. filed an Application requesting
approval of equipment for the 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 Idaho Code ~ 63-30291(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. In this Order, we find that
CenturyTel's investment meets the applicable standards.
THE APPLICATION
The Company s Application identifies broadband investments during the first six
months of 2009. CenturyTel maintains that it installed equipment that provides Asymmetric
Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) service with transmission rates of 1 Mbps to a subscriber and
128 Kbps from a subscriber. The qualifying equipment was installed in the Salmon exchange.
The Company asserts that 3,420 or 68% of its Idaho customers have access to broadband
services. The Company reported a total broadband investment during the first six months
2009 of approximately $31 200.
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
Commission, the Staff reviews the application and submits a recommendation to the
Commission. Staff has reviewed the list of proposed broadband equipment submitted by the
Company and believes that the equipment identified meets the statutory criteria. Staff therefore
ORDER NO. 30910
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
Having reviewed CenturyTel's Application and Staffs recommendation, we find that
the Application for a qualifying broadband equipment Order should be granted. The Company
has demonstrated that it installed qualifying broadband equipment, identified in its Application
during 2009 in conformance with Idaho Code ~ 63-30291. We further find that as configured
the installed equipment is an integral part of a broadband network necessary to deliver broadband
services to Idaho customers. Based on the foregoing, the Commission issues this Order
confirming that CenturyTel of Idaho, Inc. has installed qualified broadband equipment as a
precondition to seeking an Idaho broadband tax credit. The Commission makes no findings
regarding the costs ofthe installed broadband equipment.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that CenturyTel of Idaho, Inc.'s Application for an
Order certifying that it has installed qualifying broadband equipment for 2009 is granted.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a copy of this Order and a copy of the 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. See Idaho Code ~~ 61-626 and 63-30291(4).
ORDER NO. 30910
DONE by Order ofthe Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho, this ~ 9 r"
day of September 2009.
MPTO , P IDENT
MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
I~,
D. J well
C ' ISSlon Secretary
O:CEN-09-02 ks
ORDER NO. 30910