HomeMy WebLinkAbout19971029Order No 27196 - Notice of Petition.docBEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF GTE NORTHWEST INCORPORATED FOR DESIGNATION AS AN ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIER IN THE STATE OF IDAHO PER FCC UNIVERSAL REPORT AND ORDER NO. 96-45.
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NOTICE OF PETITION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED
PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 27196
On October 17, 1997, GTE Northwest Incorporated filed a Petition requesting that the Commission designate it as an eligible telecommunications carrier no later than January 1, 1998. Before a telecommunications carrier may receive federal Universal Fund support, it must be designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier by the state Public Utilities Commission. Federal universal service support includes high-cost support, reimbursement for discounts provided to low-income customers in the Lifeline and Link Up programs, and support for health care providers. GTE serves approximately 100,000 customers in northern Idaho.
NOTICE OF PETITION
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that Section 214(e)(2) of the federal Telecommunications Act provides that a State commission shall upon its own motion or upon request designate a common carrier that meets the requirements [established by the FCC] as an eligible telecommunications carrier for a service area designated by the State commission. 47 U.S.C. 214(e)(2). GTE certifies that it meets the requirements for designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier for its Idaho service area.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that to be designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier, a LEC must offer the following services as specified in the FCCs Universal Service Order, CC Docket No. 96-45 (FCC 97-157), released May 8, 1997:
single-party service
voice grade access to the public switched network
touch-tone service
access to emergency services, including 911 and E911
access to operator services
access to interexchange service
access to directory assistance
toll limitation services for qualifying low-income consumers
Id. at 61-82. GTE asserts that it offers the above-listed services using its own facilities and generally advertises the availability of these services pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 214(e)(1)(A) and (1)(B). GTE further asserts that it offers Lifeline services consistent with Idaho statutes and has made Link Up services available for qualifying low-income consumers.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that GTE asks that the Commission grant it a waiver if the FCC requires that both toll blocking and toll control as a part of toll limitation services. GTE asserts that it is not clear whether the FCCs USF Order requires that both be offered or only one or the other. GTE maintains that it can provide toll blocking, but does not presently have the capability of providing toll control as described by the FCC. GTE Petition at 4. In case the FCC intends that both toll limitation services be offered, GTE requests the Commission to grant it waiver of the toll control requirement, as authorized by the FCC Order. Id.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that GTE states that it is in the process of investigating whether modifications to its advanced credit management system could meet the FCCs toll control requirements. The Company notes that even if it can modify its systems to provide a toll control service, such a toll limitation process can be effective only to the degree that interexchange carriers supply rated toll billing records to GTE on a timely basis for inclusion in the customers incurred balances and comparison to account credit limits, a practice that is not common in the industry at this time. Id. at 4. Consequently, GTE requests a waiver of the toll control requirement for a period of 12 months, until January 1, 1999.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that GTE intends to provide its Lifeline customers toll-blocking at no charge. At such time as toll control services become available, then Lifeline customers will be afforded the option of converting from the toll-blocking to a toll control service at no charge when the service becomes available. Id.
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has determined that the public interest may not require a formal hearing in this matter and will proceed under Modified Procedure pursuant to Rules 201 through 204 of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission's Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.201 through -.204.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that any person desiring to state a position on this Application may file a written comment in support or opposition with the Commission within twenty-one (21) days from the date of this Notice. The comment must contain a statement of reasons supporting the comment. Persons desiring a hearing must specifically request a hearing in their written comments. Written comments concerning this application shall be mailed to the Commission and the Applicant at the addresses reflected below:
COMMISSION SECRETARY RICHARD E. POTTER
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL
PO BOX 83720 GTE NORTHWEST INCORPORATED
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074 1800 41ST ST, MC: WA0105LE
EVERETT, WA 98201
Street Address for Express Mail:
472 W WASHINGTON ST
BOISE, IDAHO 83702-5983
These comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this document.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no written comments are received within the time limit set, the Commission will consider this matter on its merits and enter its Order without a formal hearing. If written comments are received within the time limit set, the Commission will consider them and, in its discretion, may set the same for formal hearing.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Petition has been filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection during regular business hours at the Commission offices.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this case will be held pursuant to the Commission's jurisdiction under Title 61 or Title 62 of the Idaho Code and that the Commission may enter any final Order consistent with its authority under Title 61 or Title 62.
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.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to Idaho Code 62-615(1).
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that this matter be processed under Modified Procedure. Persons interested in submitting written comments in this matter should do so within twenty-one (21) days from the date of this Order.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this day of October 1997.
DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT
RALPH NELSON, COMMISSIONER
MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary
vld/O:GTE-T-97-12.dh
Link Up assists low-income subscribers to acquire new telephone service by paying half of the first $60.00 charge for the installation of service. To be eligible for this program, an eligible subscriber must meet the state-established means test. Link Up currently is funded through an adjustment that allocates the incumbent LECs Link-Up cost to the interstate jurisdiction, effectively passing them onto interexchange carriers. USF Order at 344.
Toll blocking is currently available in most Idaho exchanges and simply prohibits the customer from making long-distance calls. Toll control permits a customer to limit the toll charges he or she can incur during a billing period to a preset amount. This latter service would require a substantial integration between the CO switch and the billing records of the customer.
NOTICE OF PETITION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 27196 -1-
Office of the Secretary
Service Date
October 29, 1997