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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20240820Application.pdf RECEIVED Tuesday, August 20, 2024 IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION "-1 CASE NO.: POT-T-24-01 August 20, 2024 Sent Via: E-Filing secretary(cDpuc.idaho.gov Commission Secretary Idaho Public Utilities Commission PO Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0074 RE: Potlatch Telephone Company d/b/a TDs Telecom Broadband Tax Credit for January 1, 2023— December 31, 2023 Dear Commission Secretary: Enclosed for filing is the application of Potlatch Telephone Company d/b/a TDS Telecom for a broadband tax credit for the period of January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. TDS Telecom requests that the Commission find the Company eligible to receive an Idaho tax credit and that the broadband equipment installed in the state of Idaho during these years meets the definition of qualified broadband equipment as set forth in Idaho code 63-30291(3)(b). 1. Name and address of the applicant including the contact person in the event there are questions regarding the application and its content. An indication whether the applicant is a telecommunications carrier, a commercial mobile service carrier, a cable or open video operator, a satellite carrier, or other type of wireless carrier. Potlatch Telephone Company is a telecommunications carrier i.e. an ILEC. Gail Long, Manager—State Government Affairs TDS Telecom 525 Junction Road Madison, WI 53717 Gail.long(aWstelecom.com Phone: 608-664-2923 Fax: 608-830-5519 2. Identify the area or location where the equipment is installed in Idaho. The equipment is installed in the areas of Kendrick, Juliaetta and Troy, Idaho. 3. Describe the type of broadband service(s)s offered to the public in Idaho. The Company offers Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) services in the State of Idaho and began offering fiber to the home services in some locations as early as June 2020. 4. Provide the lowest transmission rate offered to customers, in bits per second, that subscribers to the relevant broadband network can receive and send (download and upload). The Company currently offers service up to 1 Gig symmetrical in the locations where PON has been deployed. The lowest speed the Company markets is up to 5Mbps/512kbs. See also response to 7 below. 5. Provide a specific list of the equipment or types of equipment that the applicant is requesting that the Commission determine is "qualified broadband equipment' as defined in Idaho Code § 63- 525 JUNCTION RD, MADISON, WI 53717 30291(3)(b). List the brand, manufacturer, model numbers, of the installed equipment, number of items, and total cost. The Company considers the cost of materials and labor to be confidential and therefore has included both a public and confidential version of the information. See attached excel files "2023 Potlatch Investment Confidential"and "2023 Potlatch Investment Public. 6. Provide the date(s)or time period(s)when the broadband equipment was installed in Idaho. See Response to 5. 7. Quantify the percentage or number of potential Idaho customers that could be served with the broadband equipment and the percentage and number of non-Idaho subscribers that will be/could be served by the broadband network. During 2023, the Company continued to invest heavily in ACAM related builds in addition to the fiber to the home projects which have improved broadband available speeds dramatically and will further improve broadband speeds at many locations in future years. There is no benefit to customers located outside of the State of Idaho. As of 12/31/23 the following number of locations have access to broadband broken down by the FCC tier speed criteria: FCC Speed Tier Percentage >=100Mbps x 25Mbps 45 50Mbps x 5Mbps 12 25Mbps x 5Mbps 9 25Mbps x 3Mbps 4 10Mbps x 1 Mbps 18 4Mbps x 1 Mbps 3 1 Mbps x 256kbps 3 Less than 1 Mbps x 256kbps 6 Total 100% 8. Enclose a statement certifying that the applicant has read the applicable statutes for broadband investment income tax credit and the applicant believes that the subject broadband equipment qualifies for the tax credit under Idaho Code 63-30291. See attached statement of certification. The Company respectfully requests this application be approved as filed. If you have questions or concerns regarding this filing, please contact me at either 608-664-2923 or gail.long(aWstelecom.com. Sincerely, /s/ Gail Long Sr. Manager—State Government Affairs Attachments: 3 525 JUNCTION RD, MADISON, WI 53717