19990527Comments.doc

CHERI C. COPSEY
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
PO BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074
[phone]
Idaho Bar No. 5142

Street Address for Express Mail:
472 W. WASHINGTON
BOISE, IDAHO 83702-5983

Attorney for the Commission Staff

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF CTC TELECOM, INC. FOR AN AMENDED CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY.
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CASE NO. CTLT991

STAFF COMMENTS

COMES NOW the Staff of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, by and through its Attorney of record, Cheri C. Copsey, Deputy Attorney General, and submits the following comments in response to Order No. 28039 dated May 13, 1999, for the Commission’s consideration.
BACKGROUND
On April 30, 1999, the Commission received an Application from CTC Telecom, Inc. for an Amended Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to provide competitive local exchange service as a competitive local carrier throughout U S WEST Communications, Inc.’s southern Idaho service territory. Application at 1. CTC’s Certificate No. 348 was issued September 22, 1998.
CTC was granted a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity on August 10, 1998, by Order No. 27673, to provide basic local exchange service to an area known as Hidden Springs, located in Ada County, Idaho. (CTC is an Idaho corporation, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cambridge Telephone Company.)
In connection with the issuance of Certificate No. 348, CTC provided all required documentation and information required by Commission Rule of Procedure 111, IDAPA 31.01.01.111, and Procedural Order No. 26665, issued November 7, 1996. Order No. 26665 sets out the necessary information to be included with an Application for a Certificate submitted by a new local service provider in Idaho.
STAFF ANALYSIS
Staff reviewed the Application and finds it satisfies the requirements specified by the Commission for the amendment of a Certificate in Order No. 26665. CTC is simply requesting to expand its potential service area to one similar to that requested by nearly all competitive local exchange providers that have been issued a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity by this Commission. Staff believes the expanded service area requested in this amendment would enhance competition and therefore be consistent with public interest, convenience and necessity.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of the Application.
Respectfully submitted this day of May, 1999

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Cheri C. Copsey
Deputy Attorney General

Technical Staff: Wayne Hart

STAFF COMMENTS -1- MAY 27, 1999