20240614News Release.pdf

Idaho Public Utilities Commission Brad Litile,Governor
P.O. Banc 83720. Boise, ID 83720-0074 Eric Anderson, President
Ain R.Mammo* Jr,Cbmmissloner
Edward Lodge,Commissioner
Case No. QWE-T-23-05
Order No. 36224
Contact:Adam Rush
Office: [phone]
E-mail: adam.rush(&puc.idaho.gov
NEWS RELEASE: Commission denies telecom company's application seeking approval to have
equipment designated as qualified broadband equipment.
BOISE (June 14, 2024)—The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has denied an application
from CenturyLink requesting that equipment it installed in 2022 be designated as qualified
broadband equipment.
Idaho code allows a taxpayer to receive an income tax credit for having installed qualified
broadband equipment during a calendar year. Before the taxpayer is eligible for the credit, the
taxpayer is required to apply to the commission for an order confirming the equipment is
qualified broadband equipment as defined in Idaho statute. The statute defines the equipment as
being capable of transmitting signals at a rate of at least 200,000 bits per second to a subscriber
and at least 125,000 bits per second from a subscriber.
In its application to the commission, CenturyLink said its net investment in qualifying broadband
equipment in 2022 was $23,348,473. It indicated its lowest transmission rates were 500,000 bits
per second and 250,000 bits per second for downloads and uploads, respectively.
The commission denied CenturyLink's application after reviewing it and determining it did not
properly describe the broadband equipment in question. The company also did not respond to
audit requests from commission staff for information on the equipment that would have included
the brand, model number and manufacturer.
Additional information is available at puc.idaho.gov/case/Details/7232.