28350.hrg.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT APPLICATION OF MIDVALE TELEPHONE EXCHANGE, INC. AND SAWTOOTH TELEPHONE, INC. FOR AUTHORITY TO INCREASE RATES AND DISBURSEMENTS FROM THE IDAHO USF. )
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CASE NOS. MIDT991
SAW-T-99-1

ORDER VACATING TECHNICAL HEARING
AND REBUTTAL DATE

ORDER NO.  28350

On September 28, 1999, Midvale Telephone Exchange, Inc. and Sawtooth Telephone, Inc. filed a Joint Application requesting authority for Midvale and Sawtooth to increase local exchange rates and receive increased distributions from the Idaho Universal Service Fund effective November 1, 1999. On October 19, 1999, the Commission suspended the rates that are subject of the Application for a period of thirty (30) days plus five (5) months from the proposed effective date of November 1, 1999, pursuant to Idaho Code § 61-622. Order No. 28179. On January 13, 2000, the Commission continued that suspension for an additional period of sixty (60) days, or until such time as the Commission may issue an Order accepting or rejecting or modifying the Application in this matter. Idaho Code § 61-622. Order No.  28249.
The Commission adopted the following procedural schedule:

Filing of direct testimony by Staff and Intervenors
Filing of rebuttal testimony by Applicants
Technical hearing in Boise
Public EAS Hearing in Midvale
Public EAS Hearing in Stanley April 4, 2000
April 18, 2000
April 25, 2000
May 2, 2000
May 4, 2000

The parties have informed the Commission that they are currently negotiating and may reach settlement on several issues. Therefore, the Commission was requested to vacate the technical hearing currently scheduled to begin April 25, 2000, and to suspend the date for rebuttal testimony. The technical hearing and the date for filing rebuttal testimony will be rescheduled at a later time. The public hearings scheduled for May 2, 2000, and May 4, 2000, are unaffected by this Order.
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the technical hearing currently scheduled to begin April 25, 2000, is hereby vacated. The date for filing rebuttal testimony is suspended. The public hearings scheduled for May 2, 2000, and May 4, 2000, are unaffected.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this
day of April 2000.

DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

PAUL KJELLANDER, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary

O:\midt991_sawt991_cc4
On December 17, 1999, the Commission approved the merger of Midvale and Sawtooth. Order No. 28233.

ORDER VACATING TECHNICAL
HEARING AND REBUTTAL DATE
ORDER NO. 28350 -1-

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
April 24, 2000