990205.docx

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER HANSENJOE CUSICK
COMMISSIONER NELSONBIRDELLE BROWN
COMMISSIONER SMITHCAROLEE HALL
MYRNA WALTERSDOUG COOLEY
STEPHANIE MILLERBEVERLY BARKER
DON HOWELLDAVID SCOTT
TONYA CLARKWORKING FILE
RITA SCOTT
WELDON STUTZMAN
BRAD PURDY
CHERI COPSEY
FROM:WAYNE HART
DATE:FEBRUARY 5, 1999
RE:PETITION FROM RURAL TELEPHONE COMPANY CUSTOMERS FOR EXTENDED AREA SERVICE FROM ATLANTA TO IDAHO CITY, BOISE, NAMPA, CALDWELL AND THE COMMUNITIES IN U S WEST’S TREASURE VALLEY CALLING AREA.
On January 28,1999, the Commission received petitions containing 27 signatures from Rural Telephone Company customers requesting extended area service (EAS) from the community of Atlanta to the U S WEST-served communities of Idaho City, Boise, Nampa, Caldwell and the other communities in the U S WEST Treasure Valley calling area.  The petitions indicate a lack of local services requires these customers to make toll calls to access health care, county services, Internet service and most business services.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
The Commission already has two cases open to consider EAS routes for other Rural customers, GNR-T-97-9 for Tipanuk customers, and GNR-T-98-18 for Boise River and Prairie customers.  Proceedings in both of these cases have been combined, with hearings scheduled for February 15 and March 2.  Staff anticipated these petitions and has already planned on including testimony on the Atlanta routes in its testimony.  The Company’s testimony, which was already submitted, also addressed these routes.  Staff recommends that these petitions be considered in the ongoing proceedings in Case No. GNR-T-98-18.
COMMISSION DECISION
Should the Commission consider these petitions in Case No. GNR-T-98-18?

Wayne Hart
wh:gdk:Atlanta.dm/udmemos