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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20060313_1491.pdfDECISION MEMORANDUM TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER COMMISSIONER SMITH COMMISSIONER HANSEN COMMISSION SECRETARY LEGAL WORKING FILE FROM:GRACE SEAMAN DATE:MARCH 9, 2006 RE:2005 ANNUAL REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE IDAHO TELEPHONE SERVICE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. On February 28 2006, the Idaho Telephone Service Assistance Program (ITSAF) Administrator, Alyson Anderson, filed the Annual report for the fiscal year ending December 31 2005. Ms. Anderson reported gross revenues from surcharges of$1 609 568 of which $797 052 (50%) was assessed on wireline local exchange services and $812 516 (50%) was assessed on wireless services. Disbursement credits for eligible subscribers increased by almost 5% to $1 334 650, and disbursements to phone companies for administration costs increased by almost 4% to $118 177. At year s end, 33 038 recipients were receiving ITSAP support, an increase of nearly 6% from 2004. The ITSAP Administrator s fees and expenses were $7 888 for the year. The Fund's cash balance at the end of the year was $251 938 and $740 000 worth of Treasury Notes were purchased with maturity dates of March 6, 2006 and April 30, 2006. The number of local access lines reported to the Administrator for 2005 decreased slightly (2.6%) from approximately 679 600 to approximately 662 200. The average number of residential lines reported was approximately 465 600 and the average number of business lines was approximately 196 600. The average reported number of wireless access lines increased by almost 21 % to approximately 775 000 from 642 000. The average total number of lines increased overall by about 115 200 (9%) to approximately 1,437 200 from 1 322 000. DECISION MEMORANDUM - 1 -MARCH 9, 2006 2006 BUDGET AND TRENDS Ms. Anderson estimates the 2006 funds from access lines will remain stable, with contribution from wireless lines increasing and local access lines decreasing. She reports the number oflTSAP recipients is estimated to increase by approximately 6%, the telephone company administrative costs to increase by approximately 5%, and the ITSAP Administrator fees and expenses will increase by approximately 10%. The projected funding requirement for 2006 is estimated to be $1 635 800. ADMINISTRATOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS After reviewing the projected funding needs for 2006, Ms. Anderson believes that maintaining the current surcharge of $.07 would result in an unnecessarily high reserve balance. She, therefore, recommends a surcharge rate reduction to $.06 per month per local and wireless access line. At this rate, the projected fund balance is estimated to be $559 189, an amount Ms. Anderson believes will be adequate to reimburse companies, as well as provide a reasonable four-month reserve balance. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff agrees with Ms. Anderson s assessment that a change to the ITSAP surcharge rate is warranted and recommends the rate reduction to $0.06 per line per month. COMMISSION DECISION Does the Commission wish to reduce the Idaho Telephone Service Assistance Program surcharge rate to $0.06 per line per month? lLU ~~~ Grace Seaman i:udmemos/ITSAP 2005 DECISION MEMORANDUM - 2 -MARCH 9, 2006