20131015_4200.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM 1
DECISION MEMORANDUM

TO: COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER REDFORD
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL

FROM: NEIL PRICE
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL

DATE: OCTOBER 11, 2013

SUBJECT: APPLICATION OF INLAND CELLULAR LLC FOR CONDITIONAL
EXPANSION OF ITS DESIGNATION AS AN ELIGIBLE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIER, CASE NO. INC-T-13-01

On October 4, 2013, Inland Cellular LLC (“Inland” or “Company”), a subsidiary of
Inland Cellular Telephone Corporation (“ICTC”), filed an Application for conditional expansion of
its ETC status in Idaho. The Commission previously granted ETC status to ICTC in Order No.
30212.
THE APPLICATION
Inland notes that the Commission granted ETC status to ICTC in specified non-rural
wire centers in Idaho (“ETC Area”). Inland requests that the Commission grant a conditional
expansion of Inland’s ETC Area to include areas outside its existing ETC Area for the purposes of
establishing eligibility to participate in the Tribal Mobility Fund Phase I auction to be held by the
Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) on December 19, 2013 (“Auction 902”).
Inland states that in order to participate in Auction 902, an applicant must be designated
as an ETC for the areas on which it wishes to bid for Tribal Mobility Fund Phase I support at the
time it submits its Short Form Application. Inland notes that the deadline for Short Form
Applications was scheduled for October 9, 2013. However, subsequent conversations with
representatives of the Company revealed that the Company believes this deadline will be pushed
back due to the current “federal government shutdown.”
Inland is a Washington corporation, authorized to do business in the State of Idaho, with
its business offices located in Roslyn, Washington. Inland states that the Tribal Mobility Fund
DECISION MEMORANDUM 2
Phase I, Auction 902, will award one-time support to carriers that commit to provide 3G or better
mobile voice and broadband services to Tribal lands, specific census tracts and census blocks, that
have been identified by the FCC as lacking such services. Support will be allocated to maximize
the population covered by new mobile services.
Inland says that Auction 902 will make the award of funds through reverse competitive
bidding; the winning bidder complying with all requirements of an ETC and covering 75% or more
of the population associated with the eligible blocks in each bidding area for which it receives
funds.
Inland states that it continues to meet the minimum eligibility requirements for
designation as an ETC in Idaho including, but not limited to: common carrier status; offers services
supported by federal universal service support mechanisms; utilizes its own facilities to provide the
supported services; provides the supported services throughout its designated service area;
advertises the availability of its universal service offerings and charges for such offerings using
media of general distribution; makes Lifeline service available to qualifying low-income
consumers; and meets additional application requirements as required.
Inland believes that granting its Application for conditional expansion of its ETC service
area to include census blocks outside its existing ETC Area is in the public interest. Inland asserts
that Tribal Mobility Fund Phase I support will allow the Company to provide Tribal consumers with
competitive pricing, new services, a higher level of service quality, and great customer service.
In addition to the conditional expansion of its ETC status prayed for above, the
Company requests that the Commission send the appropriate notice of its Order designating Inland
as an ETC for census tracts and/or census blocks outside its existing ETC Area to the FCC and
Universal Service Administrative Company, and such other relief as appropriate.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to process Inland’s Application for conditional expansion of
its current ETC designation through Modified Procedure with a corresponding 21-day comment
period?

M:INC-T-13-01_np