20190412final_order_no_34308.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
April 12,2019
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION )CASE NO.TML-T-19-01
OF TDS METROCOM,LLC FOR A )CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE )
AND NECESSITY )ORDER NO.34308
On February 1,2019,TDS Metrocom,LLC (the Company)applied for a Certificate of
Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN)allowing it to provide telecommunications service in
Idaho.The Company amended its application on February 6,2019 to include a new price list.I
The Commission issued a Notice of Application and Notice of Modified Procedure
setting an April 9,2019 comment deadline and an April 16,2019 reply deadline.Order No.34279.
The Commission's Staff filed the only comments,and recommended the Commission approve the
Company's Application and issue a CPCN subject to certain conditions.The Company then filed
correspondence stating it agreed with Staff's comments and would not be filing a reply.
Having reviewed the record,the Commission issues this Order approving the
Company's Applicationas follows.
THE APPLICATION
The Company is a Delaware corporation authorized to do business in Idaho.The
Company is wholly-ownedby TDS Long Distance Corporation.TDS Long Distance Corporation
is wholly-ownedby TDS Telecommunications LLC (TDS Telecom),which is wholly-ownedby
Telephone &Data Systems,Inc.(TDS).The Company is affiliated with Potlatch Telephone
Company dba TDS Telecom and TDS Long Distance Corporation,which have operated in Idaho
for years.
The Company would provide facilities-based competitive telecommunications service
through its own loop and switching and transport facilities and through agreements with other
carriers.Services would include transport and termination of interexchange toll services to be
provided via the Company's network and through use of other long distance carriers.
The Company initially would serve residences and businesses near Coeur d'Alene,
Hayden,Post Falls,and Rathdrum,Idaho,but it requested a CPCN that would allow it to provide
'In this Order,the Commission refers to the application and amended pricelist together as the "Application."
ORDER NO.34308 1
access to resold and facilities-based local and interexchange services throughout Idaho.The
Company expects to compete with Time Warner,Charter,and Frontier.The Company has not
started to negotiate interconnection agreements,but it would do so shortlyafter the Application is
approved.The Company represented it would not require customers to pay advance deposits.The
Company agreed to comply with the Commission's rules.
STAFF COMMENTS
Staff reviewed the Company's Application for compliance with the requirements to
obtain a CPCN,and confirmed the Company has satisfied those requirements.Staff believes the
Company understands and will comply with the Commission's rules and requirements.Staff also
believes the Company has the financial,managerial,and technical qualifications to provide
telecommunications services.Staff thus recommended the Commission issue the Company a
CPCN on condition that the Company must comply with (1)the number pooling and reporting
requirements of the North American Number Plan Administrator (NANPA);(2)the reporting and
contribution requirements for Idaho's Universal Service Fund (USF),Telecommunications Relay
Services (TRS)program,and Idaho Telecommunications Service Assistance program (ITSAP);
and (3)future reporting requirements as may be imposed by the Commission.
DISCUSSION AND FINDINGS
Based on our review of the record,we find that the Company's Application complies
with the requirements to obtain a CPCN.Rule of Procedure 114 sets the requirements that
competitive local exchange carriers-such as the Company-mustsatisfy to obtain a CPCN.
IDAPA 31.01.01.114.We find that the Company has satisfied Rule 114.The Company has
provided all needed information in its Application,includingfinancial information.The Company
also has the financial,managerial,and technical qualifications needed to operate as a
telecommunications service provider,and it has reviewed and agreed to comply with this
Commission's rules.We thus find it reasonable to approve the Company's Application for a
CPCN,subject to these conditions:
1.The Company must comply with the NANPA's number pooling and
reporting requirements.See Rule 114.08 and Commission Order No.30425.
2.The Company must comply with all reporting and contribution requirements
for the ITSAP,USF,and TRS program.See Idaho Code §§56-904,61-1304,
and 62-610;IDAPA 31.46.01 and 31.45.02;and Commission Order Nos.
32637,32524,and 32526.
ORDER NO.34308 2
3.The Company must comply with all future reporting requirements that the
Commission deems appropriatefor competitive telecommunications providers.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Company's Application for a CPCN is granted
subject to the conditions outlined above.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER.Any person interested in this Order may petition for
reconsideration within twenty-one (21)days of the service date of this Order.Within seven (7)
days after any person has petitioned for reconsideration,any other person may cross-petition for
reconsideration.See Idaho Code §62-619.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise,Idaho this /Z
day of April,2019.
PAUL KJELLA ,PRESIDENT
KRIŠTINERAPER,CCCMISSIONER
ERIC ANDERSON,COMMISSIONER
Diane M.Hanian
Commission Secretary
I:\Legal\TELEPHONE\TML-T-19-Ol\orders\TMLTl901fmalorder_kk
ORDER NO.34308 3