20110627Decision Memo.pdf

RECEIVED
DECISION MEMORANDUM 20\ \ JUN 21 ~M 9: 53
TO: COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER REDFORD
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
FROM: DON HOWELL
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
DATE: JUNE 24, 201 i
SUBJECT: T-MOBILE'S RESPONSE TO COMMENTS OF ALLIED WIRELESS, THE
IDAHO TELECOM ALLIANCE (ITA), SYRINGA WIRELESS AND RURAL
TELEPHONE COMPANY, CASE NO. TMW-T-IO-Ol
In December 2010, T-Mobile West Corp. fied an Application to be designated as an
"eligible telecommunications carrier" (ETC) in Idaho. T-MobiIe is a facilties-based wireless
telecommunications carrier serving Idaho customer with basic wireless services and advanced
broadband services. T -Mobile seeks ETC status in the wire centers of non-rural incumbent local
exchange caiTiers (ILECs) - such as CenturyLink and Frontier' and wire centers of many rural
ILECs2.
On May 12, 2011, the Commission issued a Notice of Application and Notice of
Modifed Procedure requesting interested persons to fie comments regarding T-Mobile's ETC
Application. The Commission's Notice of Modified Procedure requested that interested paiiies fie
comments no later than June 2, 2011. Comments were fied by Commission Staff and by the
"Caiiier Group" comprised of Alled Wireless, the Idaho Telephone Allance (ITA), Syringa
Wireless, and Rural Telephone.
i In April 2011, CenturyLink and Qwest merged their companies. The combined companies wil use the name
CenturyLink, but the "Qwest" brand wil continue for the next several months. In July 2010, Frontier Communications
acquired control of Verizon's local and toll operations in Idaho.
2 T-Mobile's Application indicates it desires ETC status in areas served by rural ILECs including Albion, CentuiyTel,
Columbine, Direct Communications, Fanners Mutual, Filer Mutual, Fremont Telcom, Mud Lake Telephone
Cooperative, Potlatch, Project Mutual, and Silver Star.
DECISION MEMORANDUM 1