20250611Interlocutory_Order_No_36634.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
June 11,2025
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF TRUCONNECT ) CASE NO. TCC-T-24-01
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.'S )
APPLICATION FOR DESIGNATION AS ) NOTICE OF SECOND
AN ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ) SUPPLEMENTAL COMMENT AND
CARRIER ) REPLY DEADLINES
ORDER NO. 36634
On March 4, 2024, TruConnect Communications, Inc. ("Company") applied to the Idaho
Public Utilities Commission ("Commission") for designation as an Eligible Telecommunications
Carrier("ETC") in the State of Idaho. The Company requested designation as an ETC for the sole
purpose of providing Lifeline services. The Company asked that it be allowed to participate and
receive reimbursement from the Idaho Telephone Service Assistance Program accordingly.
On June 20, 2024, the Commission issued a Notice of Application and set deadlines for
public comments and the Company's reply. Order No. 36227.
The Company submitted materials supplementing its Application on July 9, 2024.
On July 11, 2024, Staff submitted comments, arguing that the Company's request for ETC
status should be denied. Among other things, Staff asserted that the Company failed to meet the
necessary requirements for an ETC to remain functional in an emergency and promote the public
interest.
On July 18, 2024, the Company submitted reply comments, arguing that the items of non-
compliance referred to by Staff were not actually requirements for obtaining ETC status.
Therefore, the Company contended it should not be denied ETC status for not submitting these
non-mandatory items. After reviewing the reply comments, Staff recommended that the
Commission issue a Notice of Supplemental Comment and Reply Deadlines to allow the parties
to submit additional documentation and analysis for consideration by the Commission. The
Commission adopted Staff's recommendation and ordered a supplemental period accordingly.
Order No. 36284.
NOTICE OF SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL
COMMENT AND REPLY DEADLINES
ORDER NO. 36634 1

On August 15, 2024, the Company moved to stay this case for six months. The Company
explained that this would give its corporate parent time to decide on the future of TCC and Sage
Telecom Communications, LLC dba TruConnect ("Sage")—an affiliate telephone company
operating in Idaho. Staff did not oppose this request.
On August 16, 2024, Staff filed supplemental comments. In these comments, Staff
explained that they believed TCC's corporate parent did not intend for both TCC and Sage to
provide the same services in the same area while operating under separate ETC designations.
Instead, the companies were to have different owners or be sufficiently distinct to justify separate
designations. Because the Company had yet to decide which path to take, Staff recommended that
the Commission stay the case for up to six months so the Company could finalize its plan. The
Commission directed Staff to recommend the appropriate course of action once the six-month stay
elapsed or TCC and Sage's futures became clear.
On October 4, 2024, the Commission stayed this case for six months to give the Company
time to determine its path forward.
During the Commission's May 20, 2025, Decision Meeting, Staff presented a decision
memorandum recommending that the Commission establish a second set of supplemental
comment deadlines to conclude this case. According to Staff, this would give all parties the
opportunity to address the impact of a written certification TCC's corporate parent would file
regarding its plans for TCC and Sage on the Company's application for ETC designation.
The Commission now issues this Notice of Second Supplemental Comment and Reply
Deadlines.
COMMISSION DECISION
Having reviewed the record, we find it reasonable to provide the parties and public an
opportunity to submit supplemental comments and supplemental reply comments addressing the
impact of the certification that the Company's corporate parent has filed. This finding is based on
Staffs representation that the certification will show that the Company's corporate parent will not
permanently maintain two identical ETCs in Idaho. Accordingly, we find that it is reasonable to
grant Staff 14 days from the service date of this Order to file its second set of supplemental
comments and the Company 21 days from the service date of this Order to file its second
supplemental reply.
NOTICE OF SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL
COMMENT AND REPLY DEADLINES
ORDER NO. 36634 2

ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Staff has 14 days from the service date of this Order to
file its second set of supplemental comments and the Company 21 days from the service date of
this Order to file its second supplemental reply.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that parties comply with Order No. 35375, issued April 21,
2022. Generally, all pleadings should be filed with the Commission electronically and will be
deemed timely filed when received by the Commission Secretary.See Rule 14.02. Service between
parties should continue to be accomplished electronically when possible. However, voluminous
discovery-related documents may be filed and served on CD-ROM or a USB flash drive.
THIS IS AN INTERLOCUTORY ORDER rather than a final and appealable order of the
Commission. While the Commission may review, stay,or clarify an interlocutory order,the period
of reconsideration will not begin until the Final Order is issued.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this I Ith day of
June 2025.
G
EDWARD LODGE, PRE ENT
t-L
J R. HAMMOND JR., COMMISSIONER
DAMN HA IE, OMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
001—ce'.,
MA c B - ez
Commission Secre ary
I:\Legal\TELECOM\TCCT2401\orders\TCCT2401_Ntc_Supp2_at.docx
NOTICE OF SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL
COMMENT AND REPLY DEADLINES
ORDER NO. 36634 3