20040414Press Release.pdf

IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
For Immediate Release
Case No. GNR-Ol-12, Order No. 29466
April 14, 2004
Contact: Gene Fadness [phone]
Website: www.puc.state.id.
Commission denies petition for toll-free calling
Boise - The Idaho Public Utilities Commission today denied a petition by residents in the Pine-
Featherville area and residents in the Bruneau-Grand View to have toll-free calling between the
two areas.
About 107 residents ofthe two communities signed petitions asking the commission to grant toll-
free extended area service (EAS) between the Bruneau/Grand View residents, served by
CenturyTel of the Gem State, and the Pine/Featherville residents, served by Rural Telephone
Company.
EAS creates toll-free calling among exchanges, but the costs are recovered by increasing the
basic, local rates for all the customers within the exchanges. When considering a request for toll-
free calling, the commission typically adheres a test of six community service standards. If the
commission finds those standards are met and the benefits ofEAS outweigh the costs, EAS is
usually granted.
The community of interest standards include geographic proximity between the exchanges; the
presence of geographic or other physical barriers such as mountains and rivers; a county-seat
relationship; a school district relationship; proximity to medical facilities and services; and the
willingness of customers to pay increased local rates.
An investigation by commission staff found the petition did not meet any of the standards.
Customers did not indicate an interest in paying higher local rates to accommodate EAS. The
areas between the exchanges are more than 50 miles apart, each is served by their own school
districts and the vast majority ofthe residents reside in separate counties. The schools serving all
the exchanges have toll-free access to the homes of all students and none of the residents have to
make a toll call to reach their county seat. Customers from the exchanges primarily rely on
medical facilities in the Mountain Home or Boise exchanges, which do not require toll calls.
The primary link, according to commission staff, is recreation. Staff indicated that some
Bruneau-Grand View residents have summer cabins in the Pine-Featherville areas.
Further, the commission noted that the Rural Telephone Company, serving Pine and Featherville
receives universal service funding, a fund supported by all Idaho telephone customers to keep
telephone rates in rural, high-cost areas comparable to rates in urban areas, where is it less
expensive to serve customers. Universal service funds would likely be used to implement EAS in
Rural's territory, commission staff found.
The commission is reluctant to use USF funds contributed by Idaho ratepayers generally to
finance EAS between exchanges that have tenuous ties at best " said the commissioners in
today s order.
Interested parties have until May 5 to petition the commission for reconsideration. Petitions must
state specifically why the petitioner contends the order is unreasonable, unlawful or erroneous.
Petitions should include a statement of the nature and quantity of evidence the petitioner will
offer if reconsideration is granted. Petitions can be mailed to commission offices at 472 W.
Washington St., Boise, 83720, or faxed to 208-334-3762.
A complete copy of the order and other documents related to this case are available for public
inspection at the commission s offices or can be accessed from the commission s Web site at
www.puc.state.id.. Click on "Recent Orders and Notices" and scroll down to Case No. GNR-
01-12.
END