19960109Amended Notice of Hearing.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF GTE NORTHWEST, INCORPORATED TO EXTEND ITS LOCAL CALLING PLAN (LCP) FOR THE PROVISION OF TOLL FREE EXTENDED AREA SERVICE (EAS) TO ITS EXCHANGES IN IDAHO.
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CASE NO. GTET953

AMENDED
NOTICE OF HEARING

On November 30, 1995, the Commission received an Application from GTE Northwest, Incorporated (GTE) to extend local calling plan (LCP) service to its telephone exchanges in northern Idaho. Following our initial review and determination that the public interest may not require a formal hearing in this matter, the Commission on December 15, 1995, issued a Notice of Application and Notice of Modified Procedure. The Commission has reconsidered whether to conduct formal hearings in this matter and has determined to conduct a technical hearing and a public hearing in Moscow, Idaho.
GTE submitted proposed tariffs in this matter with a proposed effective date of February 1, 1996. The Commission will be unable to consider the Application in this case before the proposed effective date, because of the complexity of the issues presented by the Application and previously scheduled hearings and other demands on the Commissions time. The Commission has authority under Idaho Code  61-622 to suspend the rates that are the subject of the Application for a period of thirty (30) days plus five (5) months, or less if the Commission acts sooner, from the proposed effective date of February 1, 1996. In order to allow adequate time to conduct hearings, it is necessary to suspend the proposed tariffs for a period of 90 days, or less if the Commission acts sooner, from the proposed effective date to allow the Commission to hear the evidence to be presented and to consider and to determine the issues presented in the Application.

O R D E R
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the proposed schedule of rates and charges filed by GTE in this case should be, and hereby are, suspended for a period of 90 days from February 1, 1996, or until such time as the Commission may issue an Order accepting, rejecting or modifying the Application in these matters.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Commission will convene evidentiary hearings regarding GTEs Application on February 7, 1996, in Moscow, Idaho.

NOTICE OF HEARING
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Commission will convene a technical hearing in this matter on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1996, AT 8:30 A.M. IN THE LARGE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE UNIVERSITY INN, 1516 PULLMAN ROAD, MOSCOW, IDAHO.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission shall convene a public hearing in this matter on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1996, AT 7:30 P.M. IN THE LARGE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE UNIVERSITY INN, 1516 PULLMAN ROAD, MOSCOW, IDAHO. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., one hour before the start of the public hearing, representatives of the Commission Staff and GTE will be available to meet with members of the public to answer questions and discuss the issues raised by GTEs Application. Members of the public not able to attend the public hearing may be given an opportunity to present a statement during the technical hearing.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the prepared testimony and exhibits of the Commission Staff must be served upon the Commission and all other parties of record on or before January 24, 1996. The prepared testimony and exhibits must conform to the requirements of Rule 230 of the Commissions Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.230. Any rebuttal testimony will be presented live at the hearing.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all hearings and prehearing conferences in this matter will be held in facilities meeting the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Persons needing the help of a sign language interpreter or other assistance of the kind that the Commission is obligated to provide under the Americans with Disabilities Act in order to participate in or to understand the testimony and argument at a public hearing may ask the Commission to provide a sign language interpreter or other assistance at the hearing. The request for assistance must be received at least five (5) working days before the hearing by contacting the Commission Secretary at:
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
PO BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074
[phone] (TELEPHONE)
[phone] (TEXT TELEPHONE)
[phone] (FAX)

YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this matter will be conducted pursuant to the Commissions Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.000 et seq.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this day of January 1996.

RALPH NELSON, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

DENNIS S. HANSEN, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary

vld/O:GTE-T-95-3.ws

NOTICE OF HEARING
ORDER NO. 26299 1

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
January 9, 1996