20040123Comments.pdf

LISA NORDSTROM
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
PO BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074
[phone]
BAR NO. 5733
HECEIVED (1)FiLED
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Street Address for Express Mail:
472 W WASHINGTON
BOISE ID 83702-5983
Attorney for the Commission Staff
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF
GRANITE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, LLC FOR)
A CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE
AND NECESSITY TO PROVIDE LOCAL
EXCHANGE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES.
CASE NO. GNT-O3-
COMMENTS OF THE
COMMISSION STAFF
COMES NOW the Staff of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, by and through its
Attorney of record, Lisa Nordstrom, Deputy Attorney General, in response to Order No. 29409
the Notice of Application and Notice of Modified Procedure in Case No. GNT-03-1 issued on
January 2, 2004, submits the following comments.
BACKGROUND
On October 8, 2003 , Granite Telecommunications, LLC ("Granite" or "Company ) filed an
Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to provide facilities-based and
resold competitive local exchange and interexchange services throughout the State ofldaho. Granite
Application also seeks permission to offer intrastate toll services.
The Company states that it has no customers at this time in the state of Idaho. Headquartered
in Quincy, Massachusetts, Granite was formed as a Limited Liability Company under the laws of the
STAFF COMMENTS JANUARY 23, 2004
state of Delaware. Biographies of the directing members accompanied the Application to demonstrate
its business and telecommunications experience. The Company obtained a Certificate of Authority to
transact business as a foreign corporation from Idaho s Secretary of State on August 5 , 2003. Although
the Company does not maintain an office in Idaho, it does have a registered in-state agent. Granite has
submitted its unaudited financials for the period ending June 30, 2003. Staff has reviewed these
documents and believes the Company is solvent.
With this Application, Granite proposes to provide business and residential local exchange
service, operator assistance, data services, and Centrex services. The Company does not propose to
collect advance payments or deposits, so no escrow account has been established. The example tariff
submitted by Granite also includes in-state long distance services. The Company has not yet obtained
an interconnection agreement in Idaho.
Granite has been granted authority to provide local exchange service in several other states
such as Washington and Maine. The Company states that granting its Application for a Certificate is
in the public interest because Granite s entry into the local telecommunications services market will
enhance competition in Idaho. Granite also states that its personnel have reviewed the rules of this
Commission and affirm their commitment to abide by them.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff has reviewed the Application submitted by Granite Telecommunications LLC and
believes the Company understands and agrees to comply with the Commission s rules and
requirements. Based on this review of Granite s Application, Staff believes that the Company s filing
has satisfied all the requirements of the Commission s Rules and Procedural Order No. 26665.
Therefore, Staff recommends approval of the Application for Certificate of Public Convenience and
Necessity.
Respectively submitted this
. ,J23- day of January, 2004.
. -
~tV QILr)~Lisa Nordstr
Deputy Attorney General
Technical Staff: Doug Cooley
Umiscl/Comments/gnttO311ndc
STAFF COMMENTS JANUARY 23 , 2004
CERTIFICA TE OF SERVICE
HEREBY CERTIFY THAT I HAVE THIS 23RD DAY OF JANUARY 2004
SERVED THE FOREGOING COMMENTS OF THE COMMISSION STAFF, IN
CASE NO. GNT-03-, BY MAILING A COpy THEREOF, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO
THE FOLLOWING:
GEOFF COOKMAN
REG. AFFAIRS & RELATIONS
GRANITE TELECOMMUNICATIONS LLC
234 COPELAND ST
QUINCY, MA 02169
STACY A. KLINZMAN
MILLER ISAR INC
7901 SKANSIE AVE, SUITE 240
GIG HARBOR, W A 98335
~ ~
SECRET
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE