gnrt0022.jhdc.doc

JOHN R. HAMMOND
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
PO BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074
[phone]
IDAHO BAR NO. 5470

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

Attorney for the Commission Staff

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF GLOBAL TELELINK SERVICES, INC. FOR A
CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY TO PROVIDE LOCAL EXCHANGE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES. )
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CASE NO. GNR-T-00-22

COMMENTS OF THE
COMMISSION STAFF
COMES NOW the Staff of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, by and through its Attorney of record, John R. Hammond, Deputy Attorney General, submits the following comments in response to Order No. 28591, the Notice of Application and Notice of Modified Procedure in Case No. GNR-T-00-22 issued on December 15, 2000.

BACKGROUND
On July 20, 2000, Global Telelink Services, Inc. (Global) filed an Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) in compliance with Commission Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.111 and Procedural Order No. 26665. Global is seeking authorization to provide facilities-based and resold local exchange services to Idaho customers pursuant to
Title 62 of Idaho Code within the Qwest (North and South) and Verizon Idaho service areas. These services may include single and multi-line residential and business services, CENTREX, digital subscriber line (DSL) and CLASS service features such as caller identification. Global intends to
begin offering service soon after its Application is approved and necessary interconnection agreements are executed. At present, Global has not entered into an interconnection agreement with another company in Idaho.
Global Telelink is owned entirely by two stockholders who also serve as its President and Vice President. The Company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and was incorporated in that state on October 1, 1998. Global does not own any subsidiaries or maintain an office in Idaho but does have a registered agent for this state. The Company is also certified to transact business in Idaho as of May 5, 2000.
Global contends that it has the necessary technical and managerial ability to provide the services it proposes in Idaho. Furthermore, the Company alleges that is has sufficient financial capability to provide local exchange services in a continuous manner and has stated its intent to comply with Idaho Rules and Laws.

DISCUSSION
Staff has reviewed the Application submitted by Global and believes the Company understands the Commission’s rules and requirements. The Company’s financials were also submitted and reviewed by Staff. The Company does not propose to require advance deposits from it customers. However, based on the financials presented, an estimated number of customers, the price of services, and the lack of business history in Idaho, Staff has requested that Global secure a $25,000 indemnity bond payable to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission before serving customers in Idaho.
The Company intends to operate in the Qwest and Verizon service areas of Idaho and, in lieu of providing duplicate copies of those maps already on file with the Commission it references them for purposes of this Application.

RECOMMENDATION
Based on Staff’s review of Global’s Application, Staff believes that Global meets the requirements of the Commission’s Rules and Procedural Order No. 26665. Staff recommends though that the Commission require Global to provide evidence of establishment of a $25,000 bond to it before serving customers in Idaho. Based on this contingency, Staff recommends approval of Global’s Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity.

DATED at Boise, Idaho, this day of January 2001.

___________________________
John R. Hammond
Deputy Attorney General

Technical Staff: Doug Cooley

JH:DC:gdk:umisc/comments/gnrt0022.jhdc
STAFF COMMENTS 3 JANUARY 4, 2001