20000103Comments.pdf

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BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
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WELDON B. STUTZMAN
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
PO BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-007 4
[phone]
IDAHO BAR NO. 3283
Street Address for Express Mail:
472W WASHINGTON
BOISE rD 83702-s983
Attorney for the Commission Staff
IN THE MATTER OF TIIE APPLICATION OF'
FRETEL COMMI'NICATIONS, LLC f,'OR A
CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC COITVENIENCE
AI\D NECESSITY TO PROVIDE LOCAL
EXCHANGE TELECOMMT]NICATIONS
SERVICES.
CASE NO. FRC.T.99.I
COMMENTS OF THE
COMMISSION STAFF
COMES NOW the Staff of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, by and through its
Attomey of record, Weldon B. Stutzman, Deputy Attorney General, in response to Order
No.28224, the Notice of Application and Notice of Modified Procedure in Case
No. FRC-T-99-1 issued on November 30, 1999, submits the following comments.
On September 23,1999,the Commission received an Application from Fretel
Communications LLC for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to provide local
exchange service and other telecommunications services to customers in U S WEST's southem
Idaho study area.
STAFF COMMENTS 01/03/00
Fretel is a limited liability company that was initially organized on December 18, 1998, to
provide message telecommunications service and competitive local exchange service within the
state of Idaho. Its principal business offtce is located in St. Anthony, Idaho. Its price list for Title
62 services was filed with an effective date of April1,1999.
According to its application, Fretel's members have extensive experience in constructing
and operating local telephone exchanges in Idaho and other states. The company intends to
provide the most technically modem communications services available, including basic local
exchange service, extended area service to U S WEST's EAS calling axeas, touch-tone service,
high-speed data services, access to toll areas and emergency services, and Lifeline and Link-up
services for low-income residents. The company will construct telephone plant that will include
copper cable, fiber optic cable transport facilities, next-generation loop carrier and digital switches
within the U S WEST South serving area.
Staff has reviewed Fretel's application and Fretel has made all of the modifications
suggested by Staff to bring its application into compliance. Fretel has agreed to post a $10,000
bond to cover customer deposits.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staffrecommends that this Application be approved contingent upon Fretel's submittal of
a $10,000 bond.
Dated at Boise,Idaho, thrsT.A day of January 2000.
Technical Staff: Birdelle Brown
BB:WS:gdk:fretel.cm2
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Weldon B. Stutzrnan
Deputy Attorney General
STAFF COMMENTS 01/03/00
CERTIFICATE OF SERYICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT I HAVE THIS 3RD DAY OF JANUARY 2OOO,
SERVED THE FOREGOING COMMENTS OF TrrE COMITITSSION STAX'F, IN CASE
NO. FRC-T.99.I, BY MAILING A COPY TTIEREOF, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO THE
FOLLOWING:
JAMES BAUCHMAN
FRETEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC
lIO E MAIN
ST ANTHONY ID 83445
CONLEY WARD
GIVENS PURSLEY LLP
POBOX2720
BOISE tD 83701-2720
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE