28428.sus.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF SILVER STAR TELEPHONE COMPANY FOR AUTHORITY TO BORROW FROM THE RURAL TELEPHONE FINANCE COOPERATIVE IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,263,158. )
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CASE NO. SILT001

ORDER NO.  28428

On May 24, 2000, pursuant to Idaho Code § 61-901, Silver Star Telephone Company filed an Application requesting authority for Silver Star to execute loan agreements in the amount of $3,263,158 with the Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative (RTFC). On June 27, 2000, Commission Staff requested the Commission suspend the Application for sixty (60) days until such time as the Commission Staff has an opportunity to review information that has yet to be provided.
Based on the findings below, the Commission suspends the Application for a period of sixty (60) days from July 1, 2000, or until such time as the Commission issues a final order.
FINDINGS
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has jurisdiction over the Applicant and its Application by virtue of Title 61 and Title 62, Idaho Code and the Rules of Procedure of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, IDAPA 31.01.01 et seq.
The Commission further finds that Silver Star proposes to borrow the sum of $3,263,158 from the RTFC which Silver Star states will be used to construct both central office and outside plant facilities in the Afton local exchange located in both Wyoming and Idaho to provide those customers with modern digital telecommunications services. The proposed loan will carry interest rates to be determined in accordance with RTFC’s fixed or variable interest rates at the time the loan closes. The current estimated rate is 8.5% per annum. The loan is proposed for a term of fifteen (15) years. Silver Star proposes to secure the loan by a first mortgage lien on Silver Star’s assets.
The Staff alleges that it requested detailed cost estimates and plant descriptions from Silver Star and that this information has not been received. In addition, Staff indicated that this information is necessary to its analysis. Therefore, Staff requested the Commission suspend the Application for sixty (60) days. The Commission finds that it is necessary to suspend the Application for a period of sixty (60) days from July 1, 2000, to allow the Commission Staff to analyze the requested information and for the Commission to hear the evidence to be presented in this matter and to consider and determine the issues presented in this Application.
O R D E R
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Application should be, and hereby is, suspended for a period of sixty (60) days from July 1, 2000, or until such time as the Commission may issue an Order accepting or rejecting or modifying the Application in this matter.
THIS IS AN INTERLOCUTORY ORDER. Any person interested in this Order may file a petition for review within twenty-one (21) days of the service date of this Order with regard to any matter decided in this Order. A petition to review may request that the Commission: (1) rescind, clarify, alter, amend; (2) stay; or (3) finalize this Interlocutory Order. After any person has petitioned for review, any other person may file a cross-petition within seven (7) days. See Rules 321, 322, 323.04, 324, 325 (IDAPA 31.01.01.321 –325.)
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho, this
day of July 2000.

DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

PAUL KJELLANDER, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary

Silt0001_cc

ORDER NO. 28428 -1-

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
July 3, 2000