26507.docx

(text box: 1)BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE REVIEW OF THE ONGOING FUNDING LEVELS FOR THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICES PROGRAM.
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CASE NO. GNR-T-95-4
NOTICE OF PROPOSED
AMENDMENT TO
ORDER NO. 26194
ORDER NO.  26507
On October 16, 1995, the Commission issued Order No. 26194 establishing new funding levels for telecommunications relay services (TRS) in Idaho.  Throughout the Order the funding amounts are referred to as “surcharges”, which apparently has caused some confusion for telephone corporations required to make remittances to fund TRS.  For example, some companies have inferred from the Order that TRS payments should appear as a line-item surcharge on their customers’ monthly bills.
The Commission’s Rule of Procedure 326 allows the Commission on its own motion to amend a final Order after providing an appropriate opportunity to interested persons to be heard by evidentiary hearing or written submission.  The Commission finds that Order No. 26194 should be amended to remove any confusion created by the reference to “surcharges” in the Order, and that interested parties should be provided a 21-day period in which to file comments regarding the proposed amendment.
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that a Notice of Proposed Amendment to Order No. 26194 be issued to apprise interested parties that the Commission intends to amend the Order.  The Notice will invite written comments to be filed regarding the proposed amendments within 21 days of the date of the Notice.
NOTICE OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ORDER NO. 26194
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Commission has determined that Order No. 26194 should be amended to remove references of TRS remittances as surcharges and to reiterate the Commission’s position that TRS payments should not appear as line-item charges on customers’ monthly bills.  The proposed amendments are the following:
Page 1, Background Section, Paragraph 3, Line 7, sentence reads:
“. . . The surcharges were based upon a . . .”
Amended to read:
“. . . These amounts were based upon a . . .”
Page 2, Paragraph 1, Line 10, reads:
“. . . No. 25025, further reducing the surcharge rates effective August 1, 1993 to draw down the . . .”
Amended to read:
“. . . No. 25025, further reducing the rates effective August 1, 1993 to draw down the  . . .”
Page 2, The Commission’s Decision Section, Paragraph 1, Line 4, sentence reads:
“. . . The annual report recommended increases in the surcharge amounts in the fourth . . .”
Amended to read:
“. . . The annual report recommended increases in the funding amounts in the fourth    . . .”
Page 2, Paragraph 1, Line 6, sentence reads:
“. . . Staff recommends increasing the surcharge to . . .”
Amended to read:
“. . . Staff recommends increasing the funding levels to . . .”
Page 2, Paragraph 2, Line 2, sentence reads:
“. . . We must now set the surcharges at levels that will be sufficient for the operation of . . .”
Amended to read:
“. . . We must now set the funding at levels that will be sufficient for the operation of   . . .”
Page 2, Paragraph 2, Lines 7 and 8, sentences read:
“. . . Growth is expected to continue and the surcharge levels recommended by the Staff have taken that into account.  We find the Staff recommended surcharge amounts to be just, reasonable . . .”
Amended to read:
“. . . Growth is expected to continue and the funding levels recommended by the Staff have taken into account.  We find the Staff recommended funding amounts to be just, reasonable . . .”
A photocopy of the proposed Amended Order No. 26194 is attached as Exhibit A.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that any person desiring to state a position on the proposed amendments to Order No. 26194 may file a written comment with the Commission within twenty-one (21) days from the date of this Notice.  Written comments concerning the proposed amendments shall be mailed to the Commission at the address reflected below:
COMMISSION SECRETARY
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
PO BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO  83720-0074
Street Address for Express Mail:
472 W WASHINGTON ST
BOISE, IDAHO  83702-5983
These comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this document.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this                  day of  June 1996.
                                                            RALPH NELSON, PRESIDENT
                 MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
DENNIS S. HANSEN, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary
bls/O-gnrt954.ws
COMMENTS AND ANNOTATIONS
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Service Date
July 1, 1996