27766.docx

(text box: 1)BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITIONS FOR EXTENDED AREA SERVICE (EAS) BETWEEN BURLEY, IDAHO AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES IN CASSIA COUNTY.

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR EXTENDED AREA SERVICE (EAS)
BETWEEN MALAD CITY AND REXBURG AND SURROUNDING AREAS, AND BETWEEN LOST RIVERS VALLEY AND OTHER SOUTHEAST IDAHO COMMUNITIES
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CASE NO. GNR-T-96-9
CASE NO. GNR-T-97-6
NOTICE OF SCHEDULE
NOTICE OF RESCHEDULING TECHNICAL HEARING
ORDER NO.  27766
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that in 1995, the Commission received petitions from government officials and citizens in Cassia County requesting toll-free calling among the local telephone exchanges of Burley, Idaho and surrounding communities in Cassia County.  On August 20, 1996, the Commission issued a Notice of Petition, providing notice that the case had been initiated and that Albion Telephone Company, U S WEST Communications, and Project Mutual Telephone Cooperative Association, Inc. were identified as parties in the case.  The Notice indicated the Commission initiated the case to examine the appropriateness of establishing extended area service (EAS) between the following exchanges within Cassia County:  Raft River, Malta, Burley, Murtaugh, Albion, Oakley and Elba.  The case was assigned Case No. GNR-T-96-9.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission in Case No. GNR-T-97-6 is considering implementation of EAS between the Lost River Valley communities (Arco, Moore, Butte City, Howe, Mackay, Leslie, and Darlington) and the southeastern Idaho EAS region served by U S WEST Communications.  Also a part of that case is the Commission’s consideration of implementing EAS between Malad City and the eastern Idaho EAS region.  The local exchange carrier in the Lost River Valley communities and Malad City is Westel, Inc.  Westel and Albion Telephone are sister telecommunications providers that intend to petition the Commission to combine the companies in the near future.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has determined to consolidate Case No. GNR-T-96-9 with Case No. GNR-T-97-6.  The Commission Staff is investigating community of interest and the public interest issues involved in both cases.  Staff and the parties should be prepared to present their evidence in a single technical hearing to be held in the Commission’s Hearing Room in Boise, Idaho on December 8, 1998.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that a technical hearing was scheduled in Case No. GNR-T-97-6 for November 19, 1998.  The Commission has determined to vacate that hearing in order to combine the technical hearing for both Case No. GNR-T-96-9 and Case No. GNR-T-97-6.  The technical hearing shall be held on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1998 AT 9:30 A.M. IN THE COMMISSION’S HEARING ROOM, 472 W. WASHINGTON, BOISE, IDAHO.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has adopted the following schedule for the filing of testimony and exhibits in the combined Case Nos. GNR-T-96-9 and GNR-T-97-6:
Date for Prefiling Direct Testimony by all partiesNovember 13, 1998
Date for Prefiling Rebuttal Testimony by all partiesNovember 27, 1998
The prepared testimony and exhibits must conform to the requirements of Rules 230-231 of the Commission’s Rules of Procedure.  There will be no discovery deadlines imposed in this proceeding.  The parties are directed to act in good faith in submitting and responding to discovery requests in accordance with the Commission’s Rules of Procedure.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all hearings will be conducted pursuant to the Rules of Procedure adopted by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.  IDAPA 31.01.01.000 et seq.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all hearings and prehearing conferences in this matter will be held in facilities meeting the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Persons needing the help of a sign language interpreter or other assistance of the kind that the Commission is obligated to provide under the Americans with Disabilities Act in order to participate in or to understand the testimony and argument at a public hearing may ask the Commission to provide a sign language interpreter or other assistance at the hearing.  The request for assistance must be received at least five (5) working days before the hearing by contacting the Commission Secretary at:
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
PO BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO  83720-0074
[phone]  (TELEPHONE)
[phone]  (TEXT TELEPHONE)
[phone]  (FAX)
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this case will be held pursuant to the Commission’s jurisdiction under Title 61 of the Idaho Code and that the Commission may enter any final Order consistent with its authority under Title 61.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Petitions in this case are available for public inspection during regular business hours at the Commission offices.
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Case No. GNR-T-96-9 shall be consolidated with Case No. GNR-T-97-6.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Commission will convene a technical hearing in the consolidated cases on Tuesday, December 8, 1998 in Boise, Idaho, and that the testimony and exhibits shall be prefiled according to the schedule identified in the above notice.  The technical hearing set in Case No. GNR-T-97-6 for November 19, 1998 is vacated.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this                  day of October 1998.
                                                                                                                                      DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT
                                                                                           RALPH NELSON, COMMISSIONER

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary
bls/O:gnrt969.ws
COMMENTS AND ANNOTATIONS
Text Box 1:
TEXT BOXES
Office of the Secretary
Service Date
October 14, 1998