20130717final_order_no_32854.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
July 17,2013
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF COLUMBINE )
TELEPHONE COMPANY,INC.’S )CASE NO.COL-T-13--O1
PETITION TO AMEND ITS CERTIFICATED )
SERVICE AREA BOUNDARY )ORDER NO.32854
________________________________________________________________________________________
)
On February 8,2013.Columbine Telephone Company,Inc.petitioned the
Commission for an Order amending the service area boundary described in the Company’s
Certificate No.329.See Petition for Amendment of Certificated Service Area Boundary
(“Petition”).The Company asked the Commission to process the case under Modified
Procedure.
On June 12,2013,the Commission issued a Notice of Petition and Notice of
Modified Procedure that solicited public input on the Petition and set a July 3,2013 comment
deadline.See Order No.32824.Commission Staff filed the only comments in the case and
supported the Company’s Application.
Having reviewed the record,we enter this Order granting the Company’s Petition.
THE PETITION
According to the Petition,the Company is a Title 61 regulated telephone corporation
organized under Wyoming law,with its principal place of business in Freedom,Wyoming.It is
authorized to do business in Idaho,and it maintains central offices in Driggs,Victor,and Tetonia
Idaho.Petition at 1.The Company provides basic local exchange telecommunications services,
mobile telephone services,transport services to interexchange carriers,special access services,
broadband,and other telecommunications services that customers may require.Id.
The Commission issued Certificate No.329 to the Company in 1997 as a result of the
Commission-approved purchase and transfer of Qwest exchanges.See Order Nos.26353 and
27166.Id.at 2.During an internal review and audit,the Company discovered that the
description of the exchange boundaries in Certificate No.329 conflicts with the actual exchange
areas served by the Company.The Company thus requests an amendment to the Certificate to
correct the certificated exchange areas so they accurately reflect the Company’s actual service
areas.The Company says it has served the areas within the corrected boundaries since 1997,and
ORDER NO.32854 1
that it remains willing to serve,and is best able to serve,the customers within the corrected
boundaries.Id.
The Company says the requested Certificate amendment will not affect any other
certificated telephone carrier’s service area boundary and that the corrected boundaries are not
near and will not interfere with any other utility’s existing lines,plants,or systems.Id.
The Company’s Petition attaches copies of the Company’s Certificate (Exhibit A),
illustrations depicting the Company’s actual service area (Exhibit B),and a legal description for
each amended certificate service area exchange being requested (Exhibits C,D,and E).The
Company asks that the Commission grant an amendment to the Certificate that incorporates the
boundary correction adjustments reflected in Petition Exhibits C,D,and E.See Petition at 3-4.
THE COMMENTS
Staff reviewed the Company’s Petition and verified that the Company’s proposed,
corrected boundaries do not overlap the service areas of any Title 61 or certified telephone
carrier.Staff said the Company’s proposed,corrected service area boundaries include unserved
territory,and Staff believes it is in the public interest to allow the Company to continue to serve
the current and future customers in the service area.Staff thus recommended that the
Commission grant the Petition.
DISCUSSION AND FINDINGS
Based on our review of the record,including the Company’s Petition and Staffs
comments,we find it is in the public interest to correct the service area boundaries set forth in
Certificate No.329 to accurately reflect the Company’s actual service areas.Accordingly,we
find it fair,just,and reasonable to grant the Company’s Petition.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Company’s Petition is granted.The Company’s
CPCN shall be amended to correct the certificated boundary areas as described in the Petition.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER.Any person interested in the 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.
ORDER NO.32854 2
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise,Idaho this /7
day of July 2013.
PAUL KJEL
ATTEST:
J
J1kn D.Jewell(J
dmmission Secretary
O:COL-T-1 3-Olkk2
MARSHA H.SMITH,COMMISSIONER
ORDER NO.32854 3