20040803Letter from Doug Cooley.pdf

IDAHO
PUBLIC UTiliTIEScommission
Dirk Kempthome, Governor
o. Box 83720, Boise, Idaho 83720-0074
To:Mr. and Mrs. Vlado Maras
Paul Kjellander, President
Marsha H. Smith, Commissioner
Dennis S. Hansen, Commissioner
Date: July 26, 2004
From: Doug Cooley - IPUC Staff
Re:Survey Summary of Soldiers Meadow residents - Case No. GNR- l' -04-
Beginning in July 2001 , residents in the Idaho communities of Forest and Soldiers
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extension tariff, Qwest extended service to customers at Forest that were within its certificated
exchange area. Also consistent with its tariff, Qwest was unwilling to extend service beyond its
service territory to residents at Soldiers Meadow Reservoir unless all line extension charges were
paid by the prospective customers. Thereafter, Ms. Kastner-Maras wrote letters to the
Commission in September 2003 and February 2004 asking that the Commission formally
investigate the provision of telephone service to the Soldiers Meadow area. In response, the
Commission opened Case No. GNR-04-2 regarding the possible extension of telephone
service to the Soldiers Meadow area of Nez Perce County. In addition, Staff met with the
Soldiers Meadow applicants in June 2004 and held a joint conference call with Qwest to discuss
the case. Also in June 2004, Staff distributed approximately 50 surveys with postage-paid return
envelopes to residents in the Soldiers Meadow area of Nez Perce County. The Commission Staff
was interested in measuring the current interest for telephone service in that area.
As of today, 22 surveys were returned, and 19 respondents indicated an interest in
acquiring landline telephone service in the Soldiers Meadow area. Seven respondents stated they
were year-round residents, 14 indicated vacation cabins, and 1 respondent is currently building a
residence. Seventeen surveys indicated a willingness to commit to 2 years of regular phone
service. Regarding a willingness to pay for telephone service to be extended to the area, 10
stated an unwillingness to pay by checking the "none" box~ 6 indicated willingness to pay
between $100 and $200, and 6 would pay between $100 and $1 000, Twenty-one respondents
stated they currently have wireless service, although most stated that their wireless service was
not always adequate for their calling needs. Mrs, Maras has indicated that approximately 6 more
surveys would be returned soon.
Commissioners Kjellander, Smith, Hansen
Qwest Corporation
Weldon Stutzman - Deputy Attorney General
u:dc recent survey summary
Located at 472 West Washington Street, Boise , Idaho 83702
Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone]