26679.docx

(text box: 1)BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE RURAL ZONE CHARGES BY CENTURY TELEPHONE OF IDAHO.
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CASE NO.  CEN-T-96-1
ORDER NO.  26679
On September 18, 1996, the Commission received a petition signed by six customers of Century Telephone of Idaho requesting that rural zone charges paid by some customers, which may be as much as $12 per month, be eliminated.  Century Telephone provides service in the areas of Salmon, North Fork, and Leadore, Idaho.  The petition states that the customers understood the rural zone charges were to be eliminated by Century Telephone during the last five years.
Century Telephone is one of the last telephone companies to collect rural zone charges in Idaho.  The Commission has eliminated rural zone charges for almost every other local exchange carrier.  Based on the petition, we find it appropriate to initiate an investigation into the rural zone charges of Century Telephone and determine whether a revenue neutral adjustment can be made to eliminate the zone charges.  Accordingly, Staff is directed to work with Century Telephone on a revenue neutral plan to reduce or eliminate rural zone charges, and provide a report to the Commission.
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that this Case No. CEN-T-96-1 be initiated to determine whether rural zone charges of Century Telephone can be eliminated.  Staff is directed to work with the Company to propose a revenue neutral plan to reduce or eliminate the charges and provide a report to the Commission as soon as practicable.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this                  day of  November 1996.

RALPH NELSON, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

DENNIS S. HANSEN, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary
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Service Date
November 13, 1996