20050328Notice of Investigation Order No 29743.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
March 28, 2005
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE INVESTIGATION
0 F INTRASTATE PRESUBSCRIBED
INTEREXCHANGE CARRIER (LPIC) CHANGE CHARGES
CASE NO. GNR-O5-
NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED
PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 29743
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ordered a new interstate
presubscribed interexchange carrier (PIC) change charge to be tariffed on or before April 14
2005 for interstate long distance carrier charges. The Idaho Commission has opened this docket
to investigate intrastate PIC change charges that are tariffed at the state level.
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on March 15 2005, the FCC issued a Report
and Order (47 C.R. Chapter I, CC Docket No. 02-, FCC 05-32) revising its PIC charge
policies.PIC change charges are federally tariffed charges imposed by incumbent local
exchange carriers (ILECs) on end-user subscribers when these subscribers change their long
distance carriers. The Report and Order requires ILECs to create separate PIC change charges
based on the method used to process the request. Based on cost information submitted in the
record of the proceeding, the Report and Order adopts safe harbors below which PIC change
charges will be considered reasonable. These safe harbors are $1.25 for electronically processed
PIC changes and $5.50 for manually processed PIC changes. Additionally, ILECs must also
revise their federal tariffs to reflect a rate that is equal to 50 percent of the full PIC change charge
rate when a customer requests a PIC change in conjunction with an intraLA T A primary
interexchange carrier (LPIC) change. These federal tariff revisions must be filed on or before
April 14 2005.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the FCC's previous safe harbor was set at
$5.00. Under the safe harbor, companies could tariff a charge of up to $5.00 without providing
cost studies. If a carrier desired to tariff a higher charge, they had to provide cost support to
NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 29743
justify the higher amount. The FCC's new safe harbor applies only to PIC changes for interstate
long distance. IntraLA T A PIC (LPIC) change charges are tariffed at the state level. Although
the Idaho Commission has not formally established a safe harbor rate for LPIC change charges, it
has established a precedent of approving a rate that is within the FCC's safe harbor of $5.
without requiring the company to submit detailed cost support. When the new rates for interstate
PIC change charges becomes effective there will be a lack of consistency between the charges
for changing PICs and LPICs. The consumer impact of any changes are difficult to identify
without information on the extent to which Idaho s ILECs can process such change orders
electronically.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has opened this docket to
investigate whether the LPIC change charges established by the Commission should coincide
with the PIC change charges established by the FCC. Additionally, the Commission requests
information from Idaho ILECs on their capabilities and actual usage levels ,of electronic
processing for PIC/LPIC changes.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has preliminarily
determined that the public interest may not require a hearing to consider the issues presented in
this case and that the issues involved may be processed under Modified Procedure , by
written submission rather than by hearing. IDAPA 31.01.01.201-204. In so doing, the
Commission notes that Modified Procedure and written comments have proven to be an effective
means for obtaining public input and participation.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission may not hold a hearing in
this proceeding unless it receives written protests or comments opposing the use of Modified
Procedure and stating why Modified Procedure should not be used. IDAP A 31.01.01.203.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no protests or written comments are
received within the deadline, the Commission will consider the matter and enter its Order
without a hearing. If protests or comments are filed within the deadline, the Commission will
consider them and may, in its discretion, set the matter for hearing or decide the matter and issue
its Order on the basis of the written positions before it. IDAP A 01.01.01.204.
NOTICE OF COMMENT/PROTEST DEADLINE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the deadline for filing written comments
or protests with respect to this matter and the Commission s use of Modified Procedure in Case
NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 29743
No. GNR- T -05-1 is 21 days from the service date of this Order. Persons desiring a hearing
must specifically request a hearing in their written protests or comments.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that written comments concernIng this case
should be mailed to the Commission at the address reflected below.
Commission Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
Street Address For Express Mail:
472 W. Washington Street
Boise, ID 83702-5983
These comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this
document. Persons desiring to submit comments via e-mail may do so by accessing the
Commission s homepage located at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click the "Comments and Questions
icon, and complete the comment form, using the case number as it appears on the front of this
document.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS
The Commission has preliminarily determined that the public interest may not
require a hearing to consider the issues presented in this case, and that issues raised by the
Company s filing may be processed under Modified Procedure, i., by written submission
rather than by hearing. IDAPA 31.01.01.201-204. In so doing, the Commission notes that
Modified Procedure and written comments have proven to be an effective means for obtaining
public input and participation.
ORDER
IT IS HERBY ORDERED that this case be processed under Modified Procedure.
Persons interested in submitting written comments regarding this case or protesting the use of
Modified Procedure should do so no later than 21 days from the service date of this Order.
NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 29743
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this .:L.8 -P-
day of March 2005.
tJ~
MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
~Q,Je D. Jewell
mission Secretary
O:GNRT0501 dw
NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 29743