20150403final_order_no_33266.pdf

Office ofthe Secretary
Service Date
April 3,2015
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION )
OF CRICKET COMMUNICATIONS,INC.)CASE NO.CRI-T-11-O1
TO RELINQUISH ITS DESIGNATION AS )
AN ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS )
CARRIER IN IDAHO )ORDER NO.33266
_____________________________________________________________________________________
)
The Commission granted federal Lifeline-only ETC status to Cricket on March 27,
2012.See Order No.32501.Cricket is currently licensed by the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC)as a commercial mobile radio service (CMRS)provider in Idaho.On March
13,2014,Cricket became a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of AT&T.
On March 6,2015,Cricket Communications,Inc.(“Cricket”or the “Company”)filed
a Notice of Relinquishment of its designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier (“ETC”)
in Idaho pursuant to 47 U.S.C §214(e)(4),47 C.F.R.§54.204 and Idaho Code §62-610D(4).
Cricket wishes to relinquish its ETC designation in Idaho,effective April 30,2015.The
Company states that it has fewer than 700 Lifeline customers within its ETC designated area in
Idaho.These customers will receive notification,no later than April 6,2015,of Cricket’s plan to
withdraw from the federal Lifeline program,effective April 30,2015.Thereafter,Cricket claims
that its customers have the option to select an alternative calling plan from the Company or
continue to obtain the Lifeline benefit by selecting another ETC provider.If a customer decides
to obtain service from another provider,Cricket will not impose an early termination fee.
STAFF ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATION
Staff reviewed the Application and believes the Company meets the statutory
requirements for relinquishment of the ETC designation.See 47 C.F.R.§54.205(a).Staff also
believes that Cricket’s Lifeline subscribers have competitively-priced alternatives with the
Company as well as with other ETC providers in Idaho.Thus,Staff recommended Commission
approval.
COMMISSION FINDINGS
The Commission reviewed the Company’s Application and Staffs recommendation.
The Commission approves Cricket’s request to relinquish its ETC designation in Idaho,
previously authorized by the Commission on March 27,2012.See Order No.32501.The
ORDER NO.33266 1
Commission finds that Cricket’s decision to relinquish its ETC designation will not adversely
affect telecommunications consumers in Cricket’s ETC designated area.The Commission is
satisfied that Cricket’s customers will be able to obtain wireless service by either selecting an
alternative calling plan from Cricket or subscribing to an alternate ETC provider operating in the
service area.Therefore,the Commission approves Cricket’s Application to relinquish its ETC
designation in Idaho.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Application of Cricket Communications,Inc.to
relinquish its eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC)status in Idaho is approved.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER.Any person interested in the Order may petition for
reconsideration within twentyone (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.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise,Idaho this 3
day of April 2015.
ATTEST:
O:CRI-T-1 ..O1np Relinquish
PAUL KJEL A ER,PRESIDENT
\\\
MACK A.REDFORD,COMMISSIONER
1J\-
K STINE RAPER,COIMISSTONER
ORDER NO.33266