28440.ahg.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE AN APPROPRIATE COST MODEL USING FORWARD-LOOKING ECONOMIC COSTS FOR CALCULATING THE COSTS OF BASIC TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES IN IDAHO
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CASE NOS. GNR-T-97-22
GNR-T-00-2

AMENDED NOTICE
OF SCHEDULING

ORDER NO. 28440
IN THE MATTER OF THE INVESTIGATION TO ESTABLISH THE IDAHO HIGH COST FUND AS REQUIRED BY IDAHO CODE § 62-610A THROUGH F.
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On December 19, 1997, the Commission opened a docket to analyze cost models and adopt a forward-looking cost model as required by Idaho Code § 62-610F (Case No. GNR-T-97-22). On January 18, 2000, the Commission opened another docket (Case No. GNR-T-00-2) to establish and implement the new Idaho Non-Rural USF (now called the Idaho High Cost Fund) and consolidated it with GNR-T-97-22 for the purpose of hearing and scheduling. Order No. 28261.
According to the schedule adopted on January 18, 2000, reply testimony is due May 17, 2000. On May 12, 2000, AT&T filed extensive errata to its direct filed testimony. On May 17, 2000, in response to a Motion for Extension of Time to File Testimony filed by U S WEST, the Commission issued Order No. 28381 granting an extension.
On June 6, 2000, U S WEST filed a second Motion for Extension of Time to File Testimony. No party objected. On June 20, 2000, the Commission granted U S WEST’s motion and set the date for filing Rebuttal Testimony for all parties to July 12, 2000. Order No. 28416. All other dates remained the same.
On July 6, 2000, U S WEST filed a third Motion for Extension of Time to File Testimony requesting that the date for Rebuttal Testimony be moved to August 7, 2000. U S WEST represented that it had contacted the parties regarding its motion. U S WEST stated that there were on-going discussions which may narrow the issues for trial. In addition, U S WEST indicated that its deposition of Staff witness Dr. Ben Johnson began on June 30, 2000, and is not complete. Therefore, it requests additional time to allow discovery to be completed and to allow the parties to explore the possibility of narrowing the issues for trial. Staff supports U S WEST’s motion. The Commission finds that it is in the public interest to support the parties’ efforts to reduce the number of contested issues before hearing and, therefore, finds that it is in the public interest to move the date for filing the rebuttal testimony and to grant U S WEST’s motion.
This is a very important and complex case. The testimony that has been filed so far demonstrates that the issues need to be thoroughly reviewed and all parties should have an adequate opportunity to examine the other parties’ positions. It is clearly in the public interest that the Commission has a complete record upon which to deliberate. These cases will establish a new fund and impose additional surcharges on all telecommunications customers. Moreover, the Commission finds that any attempts to narrow the areas of disagreement among the parties and, thus, narrow the hearing should be promoted and are in the public interest. The Commission finds that there is no reason to change the hearing dates at this time.
Therefore, the Commission adopts the following amended schedule.

August 7, 2000
August 22-25, 2000 All parties file rebuttal testimony.
Hearing.
In addition, the Commission Staff requested the Commission order that the caption for GNR-T-00-2 be changed to reflect the parties’ agreement that the name of Idaho’s new Non-rural Universal Service Fund be changed to Idaho High Cost Fund to avoid confusion. This is not a substantive request and the Commission finds that it is in the public interest to change the caption to mitigate confusion between the new fund and the old rural USF fund.
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that U S WEST’s Motion for Extension of Time to File Testimony is granted and the schedule set forth in this Order shall control the processing of this case. The parties shall cooperate to expeditiously provide information regarding the cost models to each other in order to avoid delays in the completion of this case.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the caption for GNR-T-00-2 is changed to reflect the parties’ agreement that the name for Idaho’s new Non-rural Universal Service Fund is changed to Idaho High Cost Fund to avoid confusion
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this
day of July 2000.

DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

PAUL KJELLANDER, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Barbara Barrows
Assistant Commission Secretary

O:gnrt002-gnrt9722_cc5

AMENDED NOTICE OF SCHEDULING
ORDER NO. 28440 -1-

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
July 10, 2000