20120309Comments of Idaho Emergency Communications Commission.pdf

:: Idaho
~ Emergency
Communications
_ Commission
Mayor Garret Nancolas - Chairman
Association of Idaho Cities
621 Cleveland Blvd., Caldwell 83605
[phone], gnancolas~i.caldwell.d.us
Rep. Rich Wils - Vice Chairman
Box 602, Glenns Ferry 83623
[phone], wills550~aol.com
Captain Bil Gardiner
Idaho State Police
700 S. Stratford Dr., Meridian 83642
[phone], bil.gardiner~isp.idaho.gov
Chief Scot Haug
Idaho Chiefs of Police Association
1717 E. Polston Ave., Post Falls, 10. 83854
[phone], scot~postfallsPOlice.com
Lan Smith
Idaho Association of Counties
415 E. Main St., Emmett 83617
[phone], commissioners~co.gem.id.us
Sheriff Chris Smith
Idaho Sheriffs Association
1115 Albany Street, Caldwell 83605
[phone], csmith~canyoncounty.org
Chief Martin Knoelk
Idaho Fire Chiefs Association
333 Sailfish Pi, Boise, 1083704
[phone], mknoelk~cityofboise.org
Teresa Baker
Idaho Prosecuting Attorney Association
200 W. Front Street, Suite 3191, Boise 83702
[phone], teresab~adaweb.net
Troy Hagen
Idaho EM Association
5870 Glenwood, Boise 83714
[phone], thagen~adaweb.net
Michele Carreras, Treasurer
Idaho State EMS Communications Center
590 W. Washington St., Boise, 83702
[phone], carreram~dhw.idaho.gov
Brig Gen Bil Shawver
Director, Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security
(Miltary Division)4040 W. Guard, #600, Boise 83705.5004
[phone], bshawver~bhs.idaho.gov
James Lemm
J & R Electronics, Inc.
8144 Stone Haven Ave., Hayden, 83835
[phone],iim~ircda.com
Andy Snook, Deputy Attorney General
Ex-Officio Member
954 W. Jefferson Street, 2"" floor, Boise 83720
[phone], andy.snook~ag.idaho.gov
March 8, 2012
RECE1VED
Idaho Public Utilities Commission472 W. Washington St. lOl2 MAR -9Pl1. 2: ""8
PO Box 83720Boise, Idaho 83720-0074 'Df' Hr' pi, HU lC
RE: Objection to Notice of Proposed Settlement Order ~oT!Hr~S"'CÒ~;rMjSSION
TracFone Wireless Inc. Case No. TFW-T-09-01
Dear Commissioners:
The Idaho Emergency Communications Commission ("IECC") objects to the proposed
Settlement Stipulation and the application of TracFone Wireless to become an Eligible
Telecommunications Carrier ("ETC") pursuant to 47 U.S.C.§ 214(e)(2). The proposed
settlement does not sufficiently address the fact that TracFone is currently in violation of
Idaho law. TracFone has not been remitting Emergency Communications Fees to
Idaho's forty-four counties in support of their respective 9-1-1 systems as required by
section 31-4804, Idaho Code.
The IECC has calculated the fees that TracFone should have remitted to Idaho's counties
since 2004, when TracFone was first required to pay these fees. The attached exhibit
breaks down the estimated fees due and is based upon the estimated number of
Tracfone's subscribers in Idaho. The low estimate is $4,923,496.37 and the high
estimate is not much different at $4,962,751.68. Please note that these estimates do not
include the additional $0.25 enhanced grant fee that is authorized for collection by
individual counties. We have omitted this fee, as the calculation of which counties have
enacted the fee and when each county enacted that fee would be too complicated.
However, suffice it to say that this fee is 25% of the fees currently owing which is
approximately another $1,000,000.00 for 2011. The proposed stipulation that states that
TracFone will reimburse fees for 2011 does not address the other fees owed from 2004,
2005,2006,2007,2008,2009 and 2010.
Additionally, TracFone has not made any attempt to negotiate a process for collecting the
Emergency Communications Fee with the IECC or any of the counties that collect the
fee. We do not feel that the mere statement that TracFone wil proceed in "good faith" is
reliable when their actions in Idaho and other states where they also owe 9-1-1 fees have
proven otherwise.
The IECC'sgoal is to provide an emergency 9-1-1 communications systems that protect
the citizens that rely upon it. The refusal of TracFoneto collect and remitthe fees that
they are legally obligated to collect is an unfair business practice and is contrary to
protecting those citizens that TracFone is claiming to assist in their application with the
Lifeline services. This issue could be resolved without the proposed declaratory
judgment action as the statutes are clear that TracFone is obligated just as any other
wireless carrier to remit the fees.
Accordingly, the Commissioners of the IECC respectfully requests that the PUC
reconsider their proposed Stipulation and deny the application untilTracFone comes into
compliance with existing law regarding the services they provide in Idaho.
Sincerely,.~
Garret Nancolas
Chair
Idaho Military Division, 404 West Guard St. ,Bldg 600, Boise, 10 83705
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