980803.docx

DECISION MEMO
TO:COMMISSIONER HANSEN
COMMISSIONER NELSON
COMMISSIONER SMITH
MYRNA WALTERS
RITA SCOTT
TONYA CLARK
STEPHANIE MILLER
DAVID SCHUNKE
DON HOWELL
JOE CUSICK
CAROLEE HALL
BIRDELLE BROWN
BEVERLY BARKER
DAVID SCOTT
WORKING FILE
FROM:WAYNE HART
DATE:AUGUST 3, 1998
RE:FILINGS OF U S WEST COMMUNICATIONS REVISING SURCHARGE FOR IDAHO TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN COMPLIANCE WITH COMMISSION ORDER NO. 27608;
TARIFF ADVICE NOS. 98-13-N AND 98-08-S.
BACKGROUND
On July 22, 1998, U S WEST Communications submitted filings for both the Northern and Southern Idaho operations implementing the surcharge for the Idaho Telecommunications Service Assistance Program (ITSAP) as directed by Order 27608 of this Commission.  (A companion Tariff Transmittal No. 98-28-SC revises the Company’s Service Catalog for Title 62 services.)  The Company asks that the new surcharge level of 13 cents per month per line become effective on
July 1, 1998. As the Company indicated in its comments on the proposed order, it is not able to include the surcharge as a line item on customer bills at this time, but hopes to be able to accomplish this by January 1999.  In the meantime, the Company will collect the surcharge by increasing the amount billed for each line.  These filings include an increase in the charges for each service that includes an access line.
STAFF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION
Staff reviewed the filings and believes it accurately implements the 13 cent surcharge as directed by the Commission.  Staff recommends the Commission approve these two filings effective July 1, 1998.  As these filings simply implement a previous Commission order, and as the Commission does not have another decision meeting scheduled for three weeks, Staff recommends these filings be approved by minute entry, to facilitate the Company’s collection of the surcharge in a timely manner.

Wayne Hart
wh:gdk/udmemos/uswitsap.dm