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Home My WebLink About20020808_231.pdfDECISION MEMORANDUM TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER COMMISSIONER SMITH COMMISSIONER HANSEN JEAN JEWELL RANDY LOBB DON HOWELL LYNN ANDERSON JOE CUSICK CAROLEE HALL WAYNE HART DOUG COOLEY BEVERL Y BARKER RON LA W GENE FADNESS TONYA CLARK WORKING FILE FROM:BIRDELLE BROWN DATE:AUGUST 7, 2002 RE:TSUNAMI COMMUNICATIONS, INc. REQUEST TO WITHDRAW ITS TELEPHONE SERVICE TO APARTMENTS IN IDAHO AND ITS CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY NO. 365 In September 2000, Tsunami applied for a Certificate to provide prepaid local service and the Application was approved by Order No. 28584. Tsunami posted the required $40 000 indemnity bond (which is to remain in force until the Commission issues an order to release the surety) and has a tariff on file. On July 29, 2002, we received "notice" from Tsunami Broadband, Inc. stating that it intended to withdraw its Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (Certificate No. 365). Accompanying this notice was a copy of a customer notice dated July 9 and apparently mailed on July 19 to its customers saying that Tsunami was in the process of turning its telephone service over to Qwest Communications. Customers were instructed to contact Qwest to assure that their phone service would be successfully transferred, but there was no deadline. Tsunami intended to stop service on July 31. A copy of the notice is attached. DECISION MEMORANDUM August 7, 2002 On July 26, Qwest advised Staffthat it might not make this transfer of customers by July 31 for several reasons, one being that they needed at least 6 working days to effect the transfer. Another problem was that Qwest did not have Letters of Authority or any authorization from Tsunami customers authorizing Qwest to provide telephone service to them. Qwest asked for an extension. Staff arranged for Tsunami to extend its date of discontinuing service to August 10. Tsunami serves about 16 apartment houses totaling approximately 200 Idaho end-user customers. Tsunami resells Qwest's lines to these customers. At the present time only 28 end- user customers have requested that their service be transferred to Qwest. Qwest is reluctant to commit to serving the remaining customers without their specific authorization. However, if Qwest disconnects them, some 180 customers may be left without service unless they have arranged for service from a wireless carrier or from someone else. At the present time, there are three options: (1) The Commission could to try to persuade Tsunami to postpone its termination of service in the hopes that more customers would notify Qwest that they want to change, (2) Qwest could disconnect Tsunami, resulting in the termination of any telephone service for the 200 end user customers, or (3) Qwest, as underlying carrier, could continue to serve the Tsunami customers. Qwest has advised Staff that it prefers that the Commission order Tsunami to postpone its disconnection of service for one more week during which time Qwest will make at least three attempts to contact each customer and place a proper order for conversion. (Since receiving this information, Staff has so far been unable to reach Tsunami by telephone.) Qwest's alternative is that the Commission issue an order requiring Qwest to "force convert" only the primary lines of Tsunami's accounts and authorize Qwest to receive the revenue to which it is entitled for the provision of this service. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Commission adopt option (3) and issue an order authorizing Tsunami to withdraw its service to these customers and authorizing Qwest to provide full uninterrupted service to them. Staff acknowledges that there will be a number of administrative problems to be resolved, but they can hopefully be resolved at a later date. DECISION MEMORANDUM August 7, 2002 Staff further recommends that the Commission cancel Tsunami's Certificate and tariff and release our requirement for an indemnity bond after 90 days. Does the Commission agree? co rres pi dmemosl cp cns/tsunam iwi th drawal DECISION MEMORANDUM August 7, 2002 July 29, 2002 To Whom It May Concern: This letter serves as official notice to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC) for Tsunami Broadband Inc. to discontinue providing residential telephone services to the state of Idaho as a Certified Licensed Exchange Carrier (CLEe). Tsunami's Southern Idaho telephone customers were sent a letter July 19, 2002 (please see attachment) informing them that Tsunami was already in the process of turning telephone service over to Qwest Communications. In addition, billing statements sent out on July 26, 2002 included another printed notification, which read "Attention all phone customers: As per the informational letter that was mailed to your residence on 7/19/02, you must contact Qwest Communications immediately at 1-800-452-5003, if you have not done so already, to avoid interruption or disconnection of your telephone service on July 31 2002. It is not necessary for you to contact the Tsunami office to transfer service." Upon later conversations with the IPUC on July 26, 2002, Tsunami negotiated with Qwest to continue providing service until August 8, 2002 to those Tsunami customers who have not yet contacted Qwest. After this date, Qwest will takeover all previously resold and managed Tsunami customer residential telephone services. Those Tsunami customers who have not contacted Qwest at any of the provided telephone numbers , will have their telephone service interrupted by Qwest, as noted in two printed correspondences. This transition should be relatively easy for Tsunami customers to manage, since they simply have to call one of the numbers provided by Tsunami to establish a new account with Qwest. Tsunami negotiated with Qwest for the following to occur: all customers will be able to retain their telephone numbers; all customers will retain their phone features; and no customer will be charged an additional $30.00 connection fee by Qwest. As for how the IPUC disposes of the existing Certificate and tariff / price lists on file for Tsunami, these should simply be pulled, since another CLEC is not taking over for Tsunami. If you have additional questions or require further information, please contact me directly at the number of e-mail address provided below. Sincerely, Jolie Schonder Director of Marketing and Subscriber Sales Tsunami Broadband , Inc. 800-877-0757 ext: 5825 509-252-5825 ischonderCi:V.tsu namicomm. net (0 Lo \Q w-'LV'-~8i 1 ti "b. ~~. unarT1i" BROADBAND July 9, 2002 Dear Valued Tsunami Phone Customer We at Tsunami Broadband appreciate your business and want to inform you about a change in service Tsunami has initiated. At your current residence, Tsunami is transitioning telephone . service over to Qwest Communications; however, Tsunami will remain your high-speed Internet and digital satellite cable television provider, if you currently subscribe to these services. To make this conversion as seamless and convenient as possible for you, the new phone activation fee Qwest charges will be waived, you will retain your current phone number, and your phone service will continue at comparable rates. In order for your phone to be successfully transferred to Qwest, you must follow two simple steps and provide them with the following information: 1. Call Qwest at 1-800-452-5003. You will then be prompted to enter in a 10-digit extension (see table below) for the specific Qwest representative who manages the accounts at your residence. Provide your name and address. Provide your social security number. Provide two contact telephone numbers. Please find your property s name and contact representative from the provided table: PROPERTY RESIDENTIAL NAME CONTACT INFORMATION Aspen Hills Justin (g) 303-298-3412 Big Trout Lodge Justin (g) 303-298-3412 Camel's Back Bryan (g) 303-298-3417 or Perry (g) 303-298-3420 Cottonwoods Bryan (g) 303-298-3417 Eagle Rock Bryan (g) 303-298-3417 Idanha Christine (g) 303-298-2423 or Mark (g) 303-298-3434 Mercerview Justin (g) 303-298-3412 PROPERTY RESIDENTIAL NAME CONTACT INFORMATION Pacific Sunrise Justin (g) 303-298-3412 Pasadena Ridge Justin (g) 303-298-3412 Penn Station Brian (g) 303-298-3424 Rembrandt PTk ' RJ Ryan 1 (g) 303-298-3415 3 -:J~Bryan (g) 303-293-3413 Ryan 2 (g) 303-298-3422, or Adam (g) 303-298-3415 River Quarry Jan (g) 303-298-3408 Southern Idaho Residential Jan (g) 303-298-3408 Sunset / Sunrise Cascade Jan (g) 303-298-3408 Whimsical Pig Jan (g) 303-298-3408 Willowbrook Jan (g) 303-298-3408 If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact the Tsunami office Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 6:00 pm PST at 1-800-877-0757 or send an e-mail to info(Ci).tsunamiusa. You do not need to contact Tsunami to cancel your phone service, as we have already begun the transition process. Best regards Jolie Schonder Director of Marketing and Subscriber Sales Tsunami Broadband , Inc. www.tsunamiusa.com