HomeMy WebLinkAbout20011130Decision Memo.docDECISION MEMORANDUM
TO: COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER HANSEN
JEAN JEWELL
RON LAW
LOU ANN WESTERFIELD
LYNN ANDERSON
DON HOWELL
RANDY LOBB
JOE CUSICK
DOUG COOLEY
MADONNA FAUNCE
TERRI CARLOCK
GENE FADNESS
BEV BARKER
TONYA CLARK
WORKING FILE
FROM: LISA NORDSTROM
DATE: NOVEMBER 30, 2001
RE: IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF POTLATCH TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC. AND TROY TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC. FOR AUTHORITY TO MERGE INTO A SINGLE CORPORATION AND FOR AN AMENDED CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY. CASE NOS. POT-T-01-1 and TRO-T-01-1.
The Application
Potlatch and Troy Telephone Companies filed a Joint Application on November 19, 2001 to merge their companies into a single corporation. The Applicants currently furnish general telephone service in the cities of Kendrick, Juliaetta, and Troy, Idaho and their immediate surrounding areas. The merger is expected to reduce the administrative requirements and tariff updates currently required for these two companies.
The Application states that the merger will not impact the day-to-day operations or services provided by these companies. While Potlatch Telephone will assume official control and responsibility for providing local exchange service on January 1, 2002, the Applicants state that both companies have been operating out of the Kendrick office for years. Potlatch Telephone Company shall be the surviving corporation following the merger.
To effectuate the merger, the Applicants request that Potlatch Telephone’s Amended Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity No. 263 be further amended to reflect the addition of Troy Telephone’s Amended Certificate No. 201. By doing so, Potlatch Telephone requests authority to continue applying Troy Telephone rates and tariff provisions to the former Troy Telephone exchange areas indefinitely. Potlatch intends to apply for authority to combine the Potlatch and Troy tariff provisions, other than rates, into a single coherent tariff in the first half of 2002.
The proposed merger does NOT include a proposed change in rates. To minimize their filings with the Internal Revenue Service, the Applicants request that approval of the merger and amended Certificate be made effective January 1, 2002. The Applicants state that the pubic interest does not require a hearing on this Application and that it should be processed under Modified Procedure.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Commission process this case under Modified Procedure with a 21-day comment period.
Commission Decision
Does the Commission wish to process this case under Modified Procedure with a 21-day comment period?
__________________________
Lisa Nordstrom
M: POTT011_TROT011_ln
DECISION MEMORANDUM 1