20140303_4308.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM

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

FROM: KARL KLEIN
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL

DATE: FEBRUARY 27, 2014

SUBJECT: CUSTER TELEPHONE’S ETC APPLICATION, CASE NO. CTB-T-14-01

On January 6, 2014, Custer Telephone Broadband Services LLC (the “Company”)
applied to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (the “Commission”) for an Order designating it as
an eligible telecommunications carrier (“ETC”) that can participate in Lifeline and receive universal
service fund, low-income support in the Salmon, Idaho exchange area (the “Designated Service
Area”). Application at 1. The Company is owned by Custer Telephone Cooperative, Inc. and has its
principal place of business in Challis, Idaho. It is a full-service wireline carrier that provides
facilities-based, local exchange services. The Company says it meets the requirements to be an ETC
under Section 214(e) of the federal Telecommunications Act (47 U.S.C. § 214(e)), the Federal
Communications Commission’s eligibility rules and orders (47 C.F.R. §§ 54.201, 54.202, and
54.405; and the Lifeline Reform Order, FCC-12-11), and the Commission’s eligibility requirements
as specified in Commission Order No. 29841. Id. at 1, 3-4. It says that the proposed Designated
Service Area does not include areas served by rural telephone companies but is part of the service
area of CenturyTel of Idaho, Inc. dba CenturyLink. Id at 1-2, 4, and 7.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Commission process the Company’s Application under
Modified Procedure with a 21-day comment period.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to process the Company’s Application under Modified
Procedure with a 21-day comment period?

M:CTB-T-14-01_kk