28145.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF CUSTOMERS OF THE RURAL TELEPHONE COMPANY TO JOIN THE TREASURE VALLEY EXTENDED SERVICE CALLING AREA .

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF CUSTOMERS OF THE RURAL TELEPHONE COMPANY BOISE RIVER EXCHANGE TO JOIN THE U S WEST MOUNTAIN HOME EXCHANGE AND/OR THE TREASURE VALLEY EXTENDED SERVICE CALLING AREA.
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CASE NO. GNRT979

CASE NO. GNRT9818

ORDER NO. 28145

On April 7, 1997, the Commission received a Petition from twenty-five (25) of Rural Telephone Company’s customers residing in or near Tipanuk, Idaho, requesting extended area service (EAS) between Tipanuk and Mountain Home and/or Boise and the entire U S WEST Treasure Valley EAS Region. In response, the Commission issued a Notice of Petition on July 11, 1997, opening Case No. GNR-T-97-9. On August 28, 1997, the Commission received petitions from one-hundred thirteen (113) Rural customers requesting EAS from the Rural Boise River exchange (the communities of Pine and Featherville) into the U S WEST Mountain Home exchange and/or the entire U S WEST Treasure Valley EAS region. In response, the Commission issued a Notice of Petition and Hearing on December 10, 1998, and consolidated Case Nos. GNR-T-97-9 and GNR-T-98-18 for the purposes of scheduling and hearings.
Based on the hearings, the record before the Commission, the parties Stipulation and the Commission rules, the Commission granted the Petitions in part on August 20, 1999. Order No. 28114. In Order No. 28114, the Commission ordered Rural and U S WEST Communications, Inc. to take the necessary actions to implement EAS as authorized by the Order and advise the Commission of the cut-over dates within fourteen (14) days of the service date of the Order.
On September 3, 1999, the Commission received a letter from Rural requesting sixty (60) additional days within which to study when cut-over can occur. U S WEST has indicated to Staff that determining its cut-over dates is contingent on when Rural intends to cut-over and that, therefore, it cannot comply with the order either. Both parties indicated they could comply with the Commission order to advise it regarding cut-over after Rural’s study is completed.
Based on Rural’s and U S WEST’s representations, the Commission grants Rural’s and U S WEST’s request and orders both to advise the Commission of the cut-over dates within sixty (60) days of the date of this Order.
Pursuant to Commission Rule 323(b), the Commission finds that Order No. 28114 is a final order as to all issues finally decided in that Order. IDAPA 31.01.01.323(b). The Commission further finds that it is not necessary to modify that Order except as to the date by which both parties must advise the Commission regarding cut-over. The relief requested by the parties is not inconsistent with the issues actually determined in Order No. 28114. Therefore, the Commission finds that nothing in this Order modifies any other provision in Order No. 28114.
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Rural and U S WEST shall advise the Commission of the cut-over dates within sixty (60) days of the service date of this Order.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER. Any person interested in this Order (or in issues finally decided by this Order) in Case Nos. GNR-T-97-9 and GNR-T-98-18 may petition for reconsideration within twenty-one (21) days of the service date of this Order with regard to any matter decided in this Order previously issued in this in Case Nos. GNR-T-97-9 and GNR-T-98-18. Within seven (7) days after any person has petitioned for reconsideration, any other person may cross-petition for reconsideration. See Idaho Code  61626.

DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this
day of September 1999.

DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

PAUL KJELLANDER, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary

O:gnrt979_cc3
Toll-free calling between exchanges is provided via a service arrangement known as extended area service (EAS). The costs associated with converting a former long-distance toll route to a toll-free EAS route are recovered from the affected customers by increasing their rates for local service.

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ORDER NO. 28145

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
September 10, 1999