20110822min.doc

IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

MINUTES OF DECISION MEETING

AUGUST 22, 2011 – 1:30 P.M.

In attendance were Commissioners Paul Kjellander and Marsha Smith. Commissioner Redford was absent and excused.

Commissioner Kjellander called the meeting to order. The first order of business was APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING on Monday, August 15, 2011. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes as written.

The second order of business was approval of the CONSENT AGENDA:
2. Gerry Galinato's August 17, 2011 Decision Memorandum re: Compliance Filing - Tariff, Case No. CAP-W-11-01.3. Grace Seaman's August 17, 2011 Decision Memorandum re: Citizens Telecommunications Company of Idaho's Application for Approval of the Interconnection Agreement with Eltopia Communications, LLC, Case No. CTC-T-11-01.4. Karl Klein's August 17, 2011 Decision Memorandum re: Avista's 2011 Annual PGA Filing, Case No. AVU-G-11-04.5. Neil Price's August 18, 2011 Decision Memorandum re: Application of Custer Telephone Broadband Services, LLC for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, Case No. CTB-T-11-01.6. Terri Carlock's August 19, 2011 Decision Memorandum re: Avista Corporation's Application for Authority to Issue and Sell Debt Securities up to $450,000,000, Case No. AVU-U-11-01.
There was no discussion and the Commission voted unanimously to approve Staff’s recommendations for items 2 - 6 on the Consent Agenda.
The next order of business was MATTERS IN PROGRESS:
7. Grace Seaman's August 19, 2011 Decision Memorandum re: 2011 Idaho Universal Service Fund Annual Report and Recommendations, Case No. GNR-T-11-04.
Ms. Seaman welcomed Alyson Anderson, Administrator of the Idaho Universal Service Fund (USF). She then reviewed her Decision Memo and made one clarification to the memo on page five, first paragraph, second line, correcting the sentence to read “will increase by approximately $41,300.”
Commissioner Smith asked for clarification as to what was meant by next year’s annual report—i.e. did she mean Ms. Anderson’s USF report or the annual report of each of the companies that receive the funds. Ms. Seaman clarified that she was referring to Ms. Anderson’s USF final report. Commissioner Smith asked if the companies that receive the funds are audited periodically, and she asked Ms. Seaman to check with the accountants to confirm how often the audits are performed.
Commissioner Kjellander asked about the FCC’s recent decision making and the potential for it to have a significant impact on Idaho’s USF approach. Ms. Seaman replied that there is the potential for that and the FCC is seriously looking at the intercarrier compensation piece of it and also looking at state commission involvement with state USF.
Commissioner Smith made a motion to approve the proposed USF 2011-2012 budget and adopt Staff’s recommendation to maintain the current surcharge rates, the current residential and business local exchange rates, and the current switched access rates. There was no discussion. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.
Commissioner Kjellander thanked Ms. Anderson for her efforts on behalf of Idaho’s USF.
The next order of business was RULEMAKING:
8. Don Howell's August 19, 2011 Decision Memorandum re: Updating the Commission's Safety and Accident Reporting Rules, Docket No. 31-1101-1101.
Mr. Howell reviewed his Decision Memo. Mr. Howell confirmed that the Commission is simply adopting the rules by reference. Commissioner Kjellander made a motion to move forward with the rulemaking process. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.
The final order of business was FULLY SUBMITTED MATTERS:
9. Deliberation re: Application of Windstream Nuvox, Inc. for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, Case No. WNV-T-11-01. [Neil Price, Attorney]
Commissioner Kjellander stated that item 9 would be deliberated privately.
There was no further business before the Commission and Commissioner Kjellander adjourned the meeting.

___________________________________ ______________________________ COMMISSION SECRETARY DATE OF APPROVAL

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