HomeMy WebLinkAboutGNRT988.docxIMPORTANT IPUC STAFF SURVEY REGARDING POTENTIAL
RATE INCREASES TO PAY FOR EXTENDED AREA SERVICE
The Commission will be considering whether to grant Rural customer requests for extended area service (EAS) between their exchanges and Boise, Mountain Home or Treasure Valley. EAS is a service arrangement providing toll-free calling among local exchanges. However, EAS is not provided for free. If EAS is granted, the costs for providing EAS may be shared by the affected Rural customers -- whether the individual customer makes long distance calls or not. The Commission has previously denied EAS requests where the increased rates necessary to cover the costs outweigh the customer costs for simply continuing to use long distance. In this case, Staff has analyzed the costs for providing EAS. To assist the Commission Staff in making its final recommendation, please respond to the following questions, and return this survey in the self addressed envelope by April 20, 1999. Your name is not necessary.
1. Where do you live?_________How many months per year do you live there?____What is your telephone prefix?__________
2. How much do you pay for local service per month?____________
3. What is your average monthly bill for toll calls within Idaho?________________
4. To what town do you have the most toll calls?__________Second most?_________________
Proposed EAS Rates & Plans: Based on costs, the Staff estimates the following rates would be necessary to support various EAS plans. These estimates do not include 911, IUSF, FCC or ITSAP charges. Staff estimated rates are not necessarily those the Commission would order.
5. If Tipanuk, Boise River, Prairie & Atlanta customers get toll-free calling into the entire Boise Region, Tipanuk, Boise River, Prairie & Atlanta residential rates would be about $67.75/mo.; business rates would be about $86.83/mo. At those estimated rates would you support this toll-free calling plan?______
6. If Tipanuk, Prairie & BoiseRiver customers get toll-free calling into Mountain Home andAtlanta customers get toll-free calling into Boise -- Tipanuk, BoiseRiver,Prairie & Atlanta residential rates would be about $50.61/mo.; business rates would be about $69.69/mo. At those estimated rates would you support this toll-free calling plan?______
7. If BoiseRiver & Tipanuk customers get toll-free calling into the Mountain Home,
Atlanta customers get toll-free calling into Boise and
Prairie customers get toll free calling into Boise and Mountain Home,
BoiseRiver, Tipanuk & Atlanta residential rates would be about $50.61/mo.; business rates would be about $69.69/mo.
Prairie customer residential rates would be about $61.57/mo.; business rates would be about $80.65/mo. At those estimated rates would you support this toll-free calling plan?_____
8. If BoiseRiver & Prairie customers get toll-free calling into Mountain Home,
Atlanta customers get toll-free calling into Boise and
Tipanuk customers get toll free calling into Boise and Mountain Home,
BoiseRiver, Prairie & Atlanta residential rates would be about $50.61/mo.; business rates would be about $69.69/mo.
Tipanuk residential rates would be about $76.91/mo.; business rates would be about $95.99/mo. At those estimated rates would you support this toll-free calling plan?_____
9. If only Tipanuk customers get toll-free calling into Mountain Home and Boise, Tipanuk residential rates would be about $68.48/mo.; business rates would be about $87.56/mo.
At those estimated rates would you support this toll-free calling plan?_____
10. If you are a part-time resident and any of the described EAS plans are granted, will you continue your telephone service?__________
USF Related Rate Increases: Even if the Commission does not grant EAS, Rural’s rates are expected to increase to allow Rural’s customer rates to continue to be subsidized by the IUSF. The IUSF is funded by a surcharge on all Idaho telephone customer bills and is used to subsidize customer rates in high-cost rural areas. Rural customers receive the second highest subsidy in Idaho. In order to retain that subsidy, Rural customer rates must be increased to 125% of the statewide average. This means that Rural customers can expect to see residential rates of between $20 and $25/month and business rates of between $39 and $44/month over the next year.
11. If you are a part-time resident and rates increase due to USF, will you continue your telephone service?__________
Other Comments (If you have comments regarding 911 or emergency services, please direct those comments to your County Commissioners. The IPUC does not have any authority over emergency services.)____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
If you have any questions, call the IPUC at 1-800-432-0369.