27379.docx

(text box: 1)BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FROM RESIDENTS OF SWAN VALLEY, IRWIN AND PALISADES REQUEST­ING EXTENDED AREA SERVICE (EAS) TO ALL OF BONNEVILLE COUNTY, AND THE TOWNS OF RIRIE, VICTOR AND DRIGGS.
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CASE NOS.  GNR-T-96-6
                      GNR-T-97-3
                      GNR-T-97-8

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IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FROM RESIDENTS OF GRAY’S LAKE, WAYAN AND FREEDOM REQUESTING INCLUSION IN THE U S WEST COMMUNICATIONS EASTERN IDAHO CALLING REGION.

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FROM RESIDENTS OF TETON COUNTY REQUEST­ING EXTENDED AREA SERVICE (EAS) TO THE GREATER IDAHO FALLS AREA.

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NOTICE OF PROPOSED ORDER
ORDER NO.  27379
In these cases customers have petitioned the Commission for toll-free, extended area service (EAS) from their exchanges to other nearby exchanges in eastern Idaho.  In Order No. 27150 issued September 24, 1997, the Commission consolidated these cases.  Public hearings were held November 6 and 18-19, 1997.  
On February 12, 1998, the Commission Staff, Silver Star Telephone Company and Teton Telecom Company filed a Stipulation and Settlement Agreement resolving the disputed issues among themselves.  The parties to the Settlement Agreement filed a Joint Motion urging the Commission to adopt the settlement and requested that the Commission issue a proposed order.  The parties asserted that the settlement represents a reasonable resolution of the disputed issues among the signatory parties.  They maintained that additional hearings are not warranted and that issuance of a proposed order would allow the parties and other interested persons to comment on the Settlement Agreement and the Commission’s proposed resolution of the remaining issues.  
NOTICE OF PROPOSED ORDER
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that pursuant to Procedural Rule 312, the Commission is issuing the attached Proposed Order for comment.  IDAPA 31.01.01.312.  Any party may file exceptions and briefs to the Proposed Order within twenty-one (21) days from the service date of this Notice.  In addition, parties may file and serve answers to the party’s briefs to the exceptions within seven (7) days after service of the exceptions.  The Commission also invites members of the public to submit comments.  
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that written exceptions or comments concern­ing this Proposed Order should be mailed to the Commission at the address listed below:
Commission Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
472 W. Washington
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
Parties filing exceptions or answers should serve those documents with the Commission and all other parties.  Exceptions, answers and comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this document.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission may adopt or revise the Proposed Order in response to the exceptions or comments and issue a final order accordingly.  The Proposed Order is not an Order of the Commission unless it is later adopted by an Order.
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the attached Proposed Order be submitted for exceptions and comments to the parties and the public.  Exceptions or comments to the Proposed Order shall be filed with the Commission Secretary and other parties within twenty-one (21) days of the service date of this Order.  Any party filing answers to exceptions must do so within seven (7) days after service of the exceptions.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this                  day of February 1998.
                                                                                                                                      DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT
                                                                                           RALPH NELSON, COMMISSIONER

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary
vld/O:GNR-T-96-6.dh4
COMMENTS AND ANNOTATIONS
Text Box 1:
TEXT BOXES
Office of the Secretary
Service Date
February 27, 1998