971216.docx

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER HANSEN
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER NELSON
MYRNA WALTERS
TONYA CLARK
DON HOWELL
STEPHANIE MILLER
JOE CUSICK
BIRDELLE BROWN
WAYNE HART
CAROLEE HALL
DAVID SCOTT
WORKING FILE
FROM:BILL EASTLAKE
DATE:DECEMBER 16, 1997
RE:CENTURY TELEPHONE OF IDAHO TARIFF ADVICE
SUMMARY
Century Telephone of Idaho, Inc. forwards new tariff filings to replace the current Lifeline, Link-Up, and Toll Limitation tariffs.  The Company submits the revised tariff in compliance with the regulations and funding amounts included in FCC Order 97-157, the Universal Service Order.  Filing such a compliance tariff is important because it is required of each company that wishes to be designated an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier under the new Federal rules.  Proposed effective date of the new tariff is January 1, 1998.
STAFF ANALYSIS
Aside from the cosmetic alteration in the appearance of the former Lifeline/Link-Up tariffs and their specific addition to the index pages, the new tariff recognizes an enhanced role for federal funding of the low-income aspects of telecommunications assistance programs and alters the tariff to note a larger federal reimbursement of the costs of providing local exchange service to low-income customers.  In addition, the revised tariff formally notes the availability of free toll limitation services to customers eligible for Lifeline assistance, waives local service deposit requirements if they choose toll limitation, and notes that participants shall not be disconnected from local service for non-payment of toll charges.
The tariff also waives service and equipment charges to change to or from this program due to changing eligibility status.
For eligible customers, the federal Lifeline assistance reimbursement will rise from $3.50 to $7.00.  The Commission will shortly make a related filing with the FCC, acknowledging for the citizens of Idaho its willingness to allow a larger federal contribution that goes beyond the current offset of the $3.50 subscriber line charge.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends acceptance of the filings as part of the changes required in compliance with the new universal service rules promulgated in the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission agree?
________________________
Bill Eastlake
be:gdk/udmem/cen9706.wpd