980212.docx

Donald L. Howell, II
Deputy Attorney General
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
472 W. Washington
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
Telephone:  [phone]
FAX:  [phone]
Attorney for Commission Staff
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(footnote: -6)

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JOINT MOTION TO ADOPT STIPULATION AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND ISSUE A PROPOSED ORDER
COMES NOW the Commission Staff, Silver Star Telephone Company and Teton Telecom Company by and through their respective attorneys of record and request that the Commission adopt the attached Stipulation and Settlement Agreement executed by the Staff, Silver Star and Teton in the above referenced cases.  
BACKGROUND
Public hearings in these cases were held November 6 and 18-19, 1997.  On February 4, 1998, the Staff convened a settlement conference to discuss disputed issues with Silver Star and Teton.  The Staff, Silver Staff and Teton subsequently entered into the attached Stipulation and Settlement resolving the disputed issues between the parties.
THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
Essentially, the Stipulation represents a settlement of all issues between the Staff and Silver Star/Teton concerning the implementation of extended area service (EAS) in the Driggs, Irwin and Wayan exchanges.  Under the terms of the Agreement, customers in the affected exchanges would receive toll-free calling into the entire U S WEST Communications’ eastern Idaho calling region.  One-party residential monthly rates would be set at $24.10 with one-party monthly business rates set at $42.00.  Although these rates are higher than those originally proposed, the parties to the Settlement Agreement assert that the proposed rates are just and reasonable.  The parties calculate that the higher rates are justified by:  (1) adoption of the “3x” traffic stimulation factor; (2) recovery of EAS costs; (3) elimination of any additional USF disbursements; (4) suspension of any rate case until 1999; (5) recognition of the jurisdictional shift in allocation of costs caused by the sale of Columbine’s Colorado property and the purchase of the Driggs exchange; and (6) accomodation of the intrastate revenue and traffic shifts when converting toll routes to local EAS routes.
PRAYER
The parties strongly believe that the Stipulation and Settlement represent a reasonable resolution of the disputed issues.  The parties do not believe that a hearing in this settlement is warranted but are ready to provide evidentiary support if necessary.  The parties move that the Commission issue a proposed order adopting the Agreement in its entirety and decide such other issues as remain.  Utilizing a proposed order would allow the public and other parties to comment upon the Settlement Agreement and other issues decided in the proposed order.
RESPECTFULLY submitted this                           day of February 1998.

Donald L. Howell, II
Deputy Attorney General
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FOOTNOTES
-6:
The case captions for GNR-T-96-6 and GNR-T-97-8 have been amended to reflect the scope of the respective EAS Petitions.