28171.mod.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF THE JOINT APPLICATION OF CENTURYTEL OF IDAHO, INC. AND CENTURYTEL OF THE GEM STATE, INC. TO REDUCE ACCESS RATES AND REBALANCE OTHER RATES FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE.
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CASE NOS. CEN-T-99-3
CGS-T-99-4

NOTICE OF APPLICATION

NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

NOTICE OF SCHEDULING

ORDER NO. 28171

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on September 27, 1999, this Commission received a Joint Application from CenturyTel of Idaho, Inc. and CenturyTel of the Gem State, Inc. (“Joint Applicants”) in Case Nos. CEN-T-99-3 and CGS-T-99-4 for authority to rebalance its rates, which will result in an increase of some rates but which, the Joint Applicants contend, will not result in “an increase in total company revenues.”
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application together with supporting workpapers, testimonies and exhibits, have been filed with the Commission and are available for public inspection during regular business hours at the Commission offices.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this case will be held pursuant to the Commission’s jurisdiction under Title 61 of the Idaho Code and that the Commission may enter any final Order consistent with its authority under Title 61.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this matter will be conducted pursuant to the Commission’s Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.000 et seq.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has determined that the public interest may not require a formal hearing in this matter and will proceed under Modified Procedure pursuant to Rules 201 through 204 of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission’s Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.201 through -.204.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that any person desiring to state a position on this Application may file a written comment in support or opposition with the Commission within twenty-one (21) days from the date of this Notice. The comment must contain a statement of reasons supporting the comment. Persons desiring a hearing must specifically request a hearing in their written comments. Written comments concerning this application shall be mailed to the Commission and the Applicant at the addresses reflected below:
COMMISSION SECRETARY
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
PO BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074
Street Address for Express Mail:
472 W WASHINGTON ST
BOISE, ID 83702-5983 CALVIN K. SIMSHAW
CENTURYTEL
805 BROADWAY, VH 1065
VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON 98660

DON DENNIS
CENTURYTEL
8102 SKANSIE AVE
GIG HARBOR, WASHINGTON 98332-8415
All comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this document.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no written comments are received within the time limit set, the Commission will consider this matter on its merits and enter its Order without a formal hearing. If written comments are received within the time limit set, the Commission will consider them and, in its discretion, may set the same for formal hearing.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has adopted the following schedule in this case:
Deadline for comments of Commission Staff
Public information meeting in Grandview, Idaho
Public information meeting in Salmon, Idaho
Public information meeting in Richfield, Idaho
Deadline for all interested parties
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m. November 5, 1999
November 15, 1999
November 16, 1999
November 17, 1999
November 29, 1999
FINDINGS OF FACT
The Joint Applicants have submitted a proposed schedule of rates and charges for telephone service to become effective on and after November 1, 1999. The Application is of sufficient importance and complexity to require the Commission's investigation of the reasonableness of the proposed rates.
The Commission will be unable to consider the Application in Case Nos. CEN-T-99-3 and CGS-T-99-4 before November 1, 1999, because of the complexity of the evidence presented by the Application and because of the previously scheduled hearings and other demands on the Commission's time.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has jurisdiction over the Joint Applicants and their Application by virtue of Title 61 and Title 62, Idaho Code and the Rules of Procedure of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, IDAPA 31.01.01 et seq.
The Commission has authority under Idaho Code § 61-622 to suspend the rates that are subject of the Application for a period of thirty (30) days plus five (5) months from the proposed effective date of November 1, 1999.
It is necessary to suspend the rates in this Application for a period of thirty (30) days plus five (5) months from the effective date of November 1, 1999, to allow the Commission to hear the evidence to be presented in this matter and to consider and determine the issues presented in this Application.

O R D E R
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the proposed schedule of rates and charges for telephone service in Case Nos. CEN-T-99-3 and CGS-T-99-4 should be, and hereby is, suspended for a period of thirty (30) days plus five (5) months from November 1, 1999, or until such time as the Commission may issue an Order accepting or rejecting or modifying the Application in this matter.
THIS IS AN INTERLOCUTORY ORDER. Any person interested in this Order may file a petition for review within twenty-one (21) days of the service date of this Order with regard to any matter decided in this Order. A petition to review may request that the Commission: (1) rescind, clarify, alter, amend; (2) stay; or (3) finalize this Interlocutory Order. After any person has petitioned for review, any other person may file a cross-petition within seven (7) days. See Rules 321, 322, 323.04, 324, 325 (IDAPA 31.01.01.321 –325.)
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho, this
day of October 1999.

DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

PAUL KJELLANDER, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary

O:cent993_cgst994_bp
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
NOTICE OF SCHEDULING
ORDER NO. 28171 2

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
October 20, 1999