20020603Comments.pdf

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WELDON B.STUTZMAN FlLéo O
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION Î$
PO BOX 83720
BOISE,IDAHO 83720-0074 URLÛ ES COMMISSION
[phone]
IDAHO BAR NO.3283
Street Address for Express Mail:
472 W.WASHINGTON
BOISE,IDAHO 83702-5983
Attorneyfor the Commission Staff
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF )WESTCOM,LLC FOR A CERTIFICATE OF )CASE NO.GNR-T-02-6
PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY TO )
PROVIDE LOCAL EXCHANGE )COMMENTS OF THE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES )COMMISSION STAFF
COMES NOW the Staff of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission,by and through its
Attorneyof record,Weldon B.Stutzman,Deputy AttorneyGeneral,in response to Order No.
29032,the Notice of Application and Notice of Modified Procedure in Case No.GNR-T-02-6
issued on May 21,2002,submits the followingcomments.
BACKGROUND
In compliance with Commission Rules of Procedures,WestCom,LLC ("WestCom"or
"Company")filed an Applicationfor a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity on
March 29,2002 to provide basic local exchange services in Idaho.The Company anticipates
offering facilities-based local exchange services,intra-exchangeprivate lines,frame relay
service,and ISDN services to subdivision residents over a fiber optic network.WestCom's
Application states that it intends to offer these services throughoutQwest's southern Idaho
terntory
COMMENTS OF THE
COMMISSION STAFF 1 JUNE 3,2002
WestCom is organized in the State of Idaho and obtained a Certificate of Authority from
Idaho's Secretary of State on January 30,2001.WestCom does maintain an office in Idaho and
does have a registered agent in the state.
DISCUSSION
Staff has reviewed the Application submitted by WestCom and believes the Company
understands and agrees to comply with the Commission's Rules and requirements.Staff has also
reviewed the financials submitted by WestCom and points out that,while the Company is in its
start-up phase,it has demonstrated positive net income in 2001 and thus far in 2002.In addition,
the Company states that it has established an escrow account with a local bank in the event that
customer deposits are required.
The Company intends to operate in the southern Idaho service territory of Qwest and has
referenced that map.WestCom has not yet obtained an interconnection agreement in Idaho.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Based on Staffs review of WestCom,LLC's Application,Staff believes the Company's
filing satisfies all the requirements of the Commission's Rules and Procedural Order No.26665.
Staff also believes that the public interest would be served by the issuance of this Certificate,
first,by maintaining and enhancing competition in the local exchange market place in Idaho,and
second,by increasing customer choice.
Staff recommends approval of the Application for Certificate of Public Convenience.
Respectfully submitted this]ay of June 2002.
Weldon B.Stutzman
Deputy AttorneyGeneral
Technical Staff:Doug Cooley
WS:DC:u:umisc/comments/gnrt02.6wsde
COMMENTS OF THE
COMMISSIONSTAFF 2 JUNE 3,2002
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT I HAVE THIS 3"DAY OF JUNE 2002,SERVED
THE FOREGOING COMMENTS OF THE COMMISSION STAFF,IN CASE
NO.GNR-T-02-6,BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF,POSTAGE PREPAID,TO THE
FOLLOWING:
MOLLY O'LEARY
RICHARDSON&O'LEARY PLLC
PO BOX 1849
EAGLE ID 83616
SECRETARY
CERTIFICATEOF SERVICE