PETITION.docx

(text box: 1)BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITIONS REQUESTING EXTENDED AREA SERVICE (EAS) BETWEEN ARBON AND AMERICAN FALLS, ARBON AND POCATELLO, AND BETWEEN ROCKLAND AND AMERICAN FALLS.
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CASE NO. GNR-T-96-5
NOTICE OF PETITION
In January 1994 and on April 24, 1996, the Commission received petitions containing more than 200 signatures and 60 signatures, respectively, requesting toll-free calling among the exchanges of Arbon and American Falls, Arbon  and Pocatello, and between Rockland and American Falls.  Toll-free calling between exchanges is generally provided via a service arrangement known as extended area service (EAS).  Approximately 75% of Idaho’s exchanges have EAS(footnote: 1) calling to other exchanges.  Local exchange service in these towns is provided by Rockland Telephone Company and U S WEST Communications.  Upon its own motion, the Commission initiates this proceeding to examine the reasonableness of establishing EAS routes between Arbon, and American Falls, Arbon and Pocatello, and between Rockland and American Falls.
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the petitions generally assert that many residents of Arbon call Pocatello and American Falls on a regular basis.  The petitions maintain that residents of Arbon call Pocatello and American Falls for community needs such as schooling, business, governmental agencies, and emergency services. The petitions further assert that residents of Rockland call American Falls for business and community needs on a regular basis. Currently there is a toll charge to call between Arbon and Pocatello, and Arbon and American Falls, as well as between Rockland and American Falls. The petitions claim that EAS calling will make it easier to gain access to government services, medical needs and basic community services.
 YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that in Case No. USW-S-96-4 the Commission is considering four local calling areas or EAS regions in southern Idaho.  Included in these four calling regions is a Pocatello Region which includes the following U S WEST exchanges: Pocatello, Inkom, American Falls, Lava Hot Springs, McCammon, Downey, Grace, Bancroft, and Soda Springs.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that this proceeding has been initiated on the Commission’s own Motion to consider the reasonableness of providing EAS routes between Arbon and American Falls, Arbon and Pocatello, and between Rockland and American Falls.  Further scheduling will be accomplished at a later time.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that Rockland Telephone Company and U S WEST Communications are designated as parties to this case.
DATED at Boise, Idaho this day of August 1996.

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary
vld/N:GNR-T-96-5.sh
FOOTNOTES
1:
1“Toll-free” EAS is something of a misnomer because the costs associated with converting a former long-distance toll route to a toll-free EAS route are usually recovered from the affected customers by increasing their rates for local service.
COMMENTS AND ANNOTATIONS
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Service Date
August 20, 1996