PETITION.docx

(text box: 1)BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT PETITION OF U S WEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND RURAL TELEPHONE COMPANY FOR AMENDMENT TO THEIR RESPECTIVE CERTIFICATES OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY.
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CASE NO. USW-T-97-4  RUR-T-97-1
NOTICE OF JOINT PETITION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED
         PROCEDURE
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on January 17, 1997, a Joint Petition for Amendment of Certificated Service Area Boundaries was filed by U S WEST Communications, Inc. and Rural Telephone Company.  According to the Petition, U S WEST’s certificated service area includes the Mountain Home exchange, a portion of which is adjacent to the Tipanuk exchange operated by Rural.  The Tipanuk exchange currently has 40 customers and is situated northwest of Mountain Home and adjacent to the northern portion of U S WEST’s Mountain Home exchange.  
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the petitioners desire to adjust the boundary between the Tipanuk and Mountain Home exchanges to add approximately 30 square miles to Rural’s Tipanuk exchange and exclude that area from U S WEST’s Mountain Home exchange.  Currently, only one residential customer receives service from U S WEST in the area.  The Petition states that U S WEST will continue to serve this customer until such time as the customer elects to obtain service from Rural.  Rural has received six requests for residential service in the identified area.  The Petition alleges that, because of the location of U S WEST’s and Rural’s existing facilities, Rural is best situated to provide service to the area and to respond to future requests for service.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Petition together with supporting workpapers, testimonies and exhibits, have been filed with the Commission and are 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 of the Idaho Code and that the Commission may enter any final Order consistent with its authority under Title 61.
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 reviewed the filings of record in Case Nos. USW-T-97-4 and RUR-T-97-1.  The Commission has preliminarily determined that the public interest may not require a hearing to consider the issues presented and that the issues raised by the Petition may be processed under Modified Procedure, i.e., by written submission rather than by hearing.  Reference Commission Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.201-.204.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission may not hold a hearing in this proceeding unless it receives written protests or comments opposing the use of Modified Procedure and stating why Modified Procedure should not be used.  Reference IDAPA 31.01.01.203.
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.  
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no written comments or protests are received within the deadline, the Commission will consider the matter on its merits and enter its Order without a formal hearing.  If comments or protests are filed within the deadline, the Commission will consider them and in its discretion may set the matter for hearing or may decide the matter and issue its Order on the basis of the written positions before it.  Reference IDAPA 31.01.01.204.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that written comments concerning Case Nos. USW-T-97-4 and RUR-T-97-1 should be mailed to the Commission and the Company at the addresses reflected below:
COMMISSION SECRETARYMARY HOBSON
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONELAM & BURKE
PO BOX 83720702 WEST IDAHO
BOISE, IDAHO  83720-0074PO BOX 1539
BOISE, ID 83701
Street Address for Express Mail:
Attorney for U S WEST
472 W WASHINGTON ST
BOISE, IDAHO  83702-5983CONLEY WARD
MICHAEL CREAMER
GIVENS PURSLEY & HUNTLEY
PO BOX 2720
BOISE, ID 83701
Attorney for Rural Telephone
All comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this document.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application in Case Nos. USW-T-97-4 and RUR-T-97-1 can be reviewed at the Commission’s office and at the Idaho offices of U S WEST during regular business hours.
DATED at Boise, Idaho this                  day of January 1997.

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary
vld/N:USW-T-97-4.ws
COMMENTS AND ANNOTATIONS
Text Box 1:
TEXT BOXES
Office of the Secretary
Service Date
January 28, 1997