960613.docx

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER NELSON
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER HANSEN
MYRNA WALTERS
TONYA CLARK
DON HOWELL
STEPHANIE MILLER
DAVE SCHUNKE
EILEEN BENNER
JOE CUSICK
GARY RICHARDSON
WORKING FILE
FROM:WELDON STUTZMAN
DATE:JUNE 13, 1996
RE:CASE NO.  GNR-T-95-4, ORDER NO.  26194; AMENDMENT TO ORDER ESTABLISHING FUNDING LEVELS FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICES
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.  Some companies have inferred from the Order that they can simply pass through the TRS payment 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.  Staff recommends the Commission provide a 21-day period for interested parties to submit written comments regarding a proposed amended Order, and then issue an amended Order No. 26194 to remove any confusion created by the reference to “surcharges.”
A proposed Amended Order 26194 is attached.  The Order is amended by addition of the initial paragraph and by removing the references to surcharges throughout the Order.
Commission Decision
Should the Commission issue an Amended Order No. 26194?
What comment period is appropriate for submission of written comments?
Weldon Stutzman
vld/M:GNR-T-95-4.ws