20200421Final_Order_No_34635.pdf

ORDER NO. 34635 1
Office of the Secretary
Service Date
April 21, 2020
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF FILER MUTUAL
TELEPHONE COMPANY’S APPLICATION
FOR A 2019 INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT
FOR INSTALLING QUALIFIED
BROADBAND EQUIPMENT
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CASE NO. FIL-T-20-01

ORDER NO. 34635

On March 19, 2020, Filer Mutual Telephone Company (“Filer Mutual” or “Company”)
applied to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (“Commission”) for an order confirming that
equipment the Company installed in 2019 is “qualified broadband equipment” under Idaho Code
§ 63-3029I (Income tax credit for investment in broadband equipment). With this Order, we
confirm that the installed equipment is “qualified broadband equipment” under Idaho Code § 63-
3029I.
THE APPLICATION
The Company states that in 2019 its net investment in qualifying broadband equipment
was $605,602.51. See Application at 4. The Company asserts it made certain investments that
constitute “qualified broadband equipment”. Id. at 1. The Company states that its transmission
rates are between 512,000 bits per second and 10 gigabits per second, and that this speed meets
the requirements of Idaho Code § 63-3029I. Id. The Company also states that 99% of its Idaho
subscribers have access to the broadband network. Id. Finally, the Company confirms through its
exhibits that the qualifying broadband equipment is an integral part of the broadband network. Id.
at 1 through 5.
THE BROADBAND EQUIPMENT TAX CREDIT
Idaho Code § 63-3029I allows a taxpayer to receive an income tax credit for having
installed qualified broadband equipment during a calendar year. Before the taxpayer is eligible
for the tax credit, the taxpayer must first apply to the Commission for an order confirming that the
installed equipment is “qualified broadband equipment” as defined in the statute. Idaho Code §
63-3029I(4). The statute defines “qualified broadband equipment” as equipment that: (1) qualifies
for the Idaho Code § 63-3029B capital investment credit that “is capable of transmitting signals at
a rate of at least [200,000 bps] to a subscriber and at least [125,000 bps] from a subscriber” (Idaho
Code § 63-3029I(3)(b)); and (2) is “primarily used to provide services in Idaho to Idaho public
subscribers.” See Idaho Code § 63-3029I(3)(b)(vii). Further, in “the case of a telecommunications
ORDER NO. 34635 2
carrier, such qualifying equipment shall be necessary to the provision of broadband service and an
integral part of a broadband network.” Idaho Code § 63-3029I(3)(b)(i).
In furtherance of its statutory responsibility, the Commission has issued Order No.
28784.1 That order specifies the information the taxpayer must include in the broadband tax credit
application. When the taxpayer files the application, the Commission Staff (“Staff”) reviews it to
determine whether the listed equipment meets the statutory definition of “qualified broadband
equipment.” Staff then submits a recommendation to the Commission. If the Commission
ultimately approves the application, then the Commission forwards it and the order to the Idaho
State Tax Commission.
STAFF REVIEW
Staff reviewed and audited the list of proposed broadband equipment and believes the
identified equipment qualifies for the investment tax credit pursuant to procedural Order No.
28784 and Idaho Code § 63-3029I(3)(b). Staff recommended the Commission issue an Order
confirming the equipment is qualified broadband equipment and forward the approving Order
along with a copy of the original Application to the Idaho Tax Commission.
COMMISSION FINDINGS
Having reviewed the Company’s Application and Staff’s recommendation, we find that
the Company’s equipment identified in Case No. FIL-T-20-01 is “qualified broadband equipment”
eligible for the tax credit under Idaho Code § 63-3029I. Accordingly, it is appropriate for the
Commission to issue an order confirming that the Company’s equipment is “qualified broadband
equipment.” The Commission makes no findings regarding the costs of the installed broadband
equipment or other expenses.
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Company’s Application for an order confirming
that equipment the Company installed in 2019 is “qualified broadband equipment” is granted.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a copy of this Order and a copy of the Application
be served on the Idaho State Tax Commission.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER. Any person interested in this Order may petition for
reconsideration within twenty-one (21) days of the service date of this Order with regard to any

1 The Commission issued Order No. 28784 pursuant to Idaho Code § 63-3029I(4), which empowers the Commission
to “issue procedural orders necessary to implement” the statute.
ORDER NO. 34635 3
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 and 62-619.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 21st
day of April 2020.

PAUL KJELLANDER, PRESIDENT

KRISTINE RAPER, COMMISSIONER

ERIC ANDERSON, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Diane M. Hanian
Commission Secretary

I:\Legal\TELEPHONE\FILT2001_final_mh.docx