20041112Press Release.pdf

IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
Case No. GNR-01-3, Order No. 29631
November 12, 2004
Contact: Gene Fadness [phone]
Website: www.puc.state.id.
Toll-free calling in Shoup, Salmon exchanges granted
Boise - The Idaho Public Utilities Commission today approved a request by Shoup residents for
toll-free calling into the Salmon and North Fork exchanges. Currently, calls from Shoup into
Salmon and North Fork, and vice versa, are long-distance, toll calls.
Because of the costs associated with extending toll-free areas, local rates for customers in the
exchanges will increase. For Shoup-area residents, their Rural Telephone Co. rate will increase
from $21.63 per month to $24.10. Business customers will pay $42, up from $40.68. The new
rate is the same that is paid by all Idaho customers who have toll-free calling into adjoining
exchanges.
Rates will also go up by 9 cents per month for CenturyTel business customers in Salmon and
North Fork, who will also be able to call toll-free into Shoup. For residential customers, the new
rate will be $21.84 per month and for business customers, $39.86.
The toll-free calling is expected to begin in about two months.
The commission uses a set of criteria to evaluate whether toll-free calling should be implemented
and if it merits an increase in rates for local service. Those criteria include call volume into the
exchanges where toll-free calling is sought, the geographic proximity between the exchanges
and proximity to school districts and medical services. The commission also evaluates the
willingness of customers to pay increased rates to recover the costs for converting to toll-free
routes.
A commission staff survey found that during July of this year, 21 out of 61 Shoup customers
averaged three calls to Salmon. Eighteen Shoup customers averaged more than 40 calls during
the month to Salmon. The commission received 10 comments from Shoup customers, all of
whom favored an increase in their basic rates to allow toll-free calling to Salmon and North
Fork. It also received a petition in favor from 31 homeowner members of a subdivision 13.
miles from North Fork.
We conclude that customers in these relatively isolated exchanges rely heavily on Salmon
schools, businesses and medical facilities to provide most the basic services customers use on a
day-to-day basis, but are not currently available without a toll call " the commission said. The
commission gave particular weight to the fact that emergency calls from Shoup customers to 911
would be toll-free.
A full text of the commission s order, along with other documents related to this case, are
available on the commission s Web site. Click on "File Room" and then on "Telephone Cases
and scroll down to Case Number GNR-01-