PETITION.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 IDAHO FALLS AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, AND THE TOWNS OF RIRIE, VICTOR AND DRIGGS.
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CASE NO. GNR-T-96-6
NOTICE OF PETITION
On March 4, 1994, the Commission received a petition containing more than 200 signatures requesting toll-free calling among the exchanges of “Greater Swan Valley,” consisting of smaller communities of Swan Valley, Irwin and Palisades, to Idaho Falls and surrounding communities, and the towns of Ririe, Victor, and Driggs.  Toll-free calling between exchanges is usually 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 communities is provided by Silver Star Telephone Company, Inc. and U S WEST Communica­tions.  Upon its own motion, the Commission initiates this proceeding to examine the reasonableness of establishing EAS routes between the Irwin exchange, which includes the towns in the “Greater Swan Valley,” and the exchanges of Idaho Falls, Ririe, Victor and Driggs.
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the petition generally asserts that Swan Valley, Irwin and Palisades are rural farming communities in which many of the residents call the city of Idaho Falls and the nearby towns of Ririe, Victor and Driggs for their daily activities.  The petition maintains that many of the residents call these areas for work, medical, government, and community needs.  The petition further states that EAS calling will assist residents in their ability to contact neighboring communities for assistance in farming, medical, and community needs.
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 an Idaho Falls region which includes the following U S WEST exchanges: Idaho Falls, Rigby, Ririe, Roberts, Blackfoot, Shelley, Firth, and Rexburg.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that this proceeding has been initiated on the Commission’s own Motion to consider the reasonableness of providing EAS between the Irwin exchange and the exchanges of Idaho Falls, Ririe, Victor, and Driggs.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that Silver Star Telephone Company, Inc. 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-96-6.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.
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Service Date
August 20, 1996