20150330_4623.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER REDFORD
COMMISSIONER RAPER
COMMISSION SECRETARY
LEGAL
WORKING FILE
FROM:GRACE SEAMAN
DATE:MARCH 25,2015
RE:CRICKET COMMUNICATIONS,INC.’S APPLICATION TO
RELINQUISH ITS ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATION CARRIER
DESIGNATION;CASE NO.CM-T-I1-QI.
On March 6.2015,Cricket Communications.Inc.(“Cricket”or the “Company”)filed a
Notice of Relinquishment of its eligible telecommunications carrier (“ETC”)designation in
Idaho pursuant to 47 U.S.C §214(e)(4),47 C.F.R.§54.204 and Idaho Code §62-610D(4).The
Commission granted federal Lifeline-only ETC status to Cricket on March 27,2012.See Order
No.32501.
Cricket is currently licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)as a
Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS)provider in Idaho.On March 13,2014,Cricket
became a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of AT&T.Cricket now wishes to relinquish its ETC
designation in Idaho effective April 30,2015.
The Company states that it has fewer than 700 Lifeline customers within its ETC
designated area in Idaho.These customers will receive notification (no later than April 6,2015)
of Cricket’s plan to withdraw from the federal Lifeline program effective April 30,2015.
Thereafter,customers may select an alternative competitive calling plan from the Company or
they may continue to obtain the Lifeline benefit by selecting another ETC provider.If a
customer decides to obtain service from another provider,Cricket will not impose an early
termination fee.
DECISION MEMORANDUM -I -MARCH 25,2015
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff has reviewed the Application and believes the Company meets the statutory
requirements for relinquishment of the ETC designation.See 47 C.F.R.§.54.205(a).Staff also
believes that Cricket’s Lifeline subscribers have competitively-priced alternatives with the
Company as well as with other ETC providers in Idaho.Thus,Staff recommends Commission
approval.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission approve Cricket’s Application to relinquish its ETC designation in
Idaho?
drace Seaman
UdmeniosIcri-t-I 1-01 etc cicIidrawaI dcc memo
DECISION MEMORANDUM -2 -MARCH 25,2015