20160412_4945.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER R4PER
COMMISSION ANDERSON
COMMISSION SECRETARY
LEGAL
WORKING FILE
FROM:GRACE SEAMAN
DATE:APRIL 7,2016
RE:COLUMBINE TELEPHONE COMPANY,INC DBA SILVER STAR
COMMUNICATIONS’MARCH 30,2016 TARIFF ADVICE LETTER TO
REVISE RESIDENTIAL SAFETY LINE SERVICE RATE AS REQUIRED
BY THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC).
On March 30,2016,Columbine Telephone Company,Inc.dba Silver Star
Communications (“Columbine”or “Company”)filed a Tariff Advice Letter requesting
Commission approval to increase the residential safety line service rate from $16.00 to $17.88.
Columbine submits this filing to comply with the FCC’s rate floor requirements.The Company
requests an effective date of June 1,2016.
BACKGROUND
In the USF/JCC Transformation Order No.11-161,released on November 18,2011,the
FCC established certain requirements for rate-of-return carriers to receive federal high cost loop
support (HCLS).One of the requirements was that the carrier’s local rate plus state fees must
meet the FCC’s established rate floor if it wished to avoid a corresponding reduction in the
HCLS.On June 10,2014,the FCC released FCC 14-54 Report and Order that implemented a
multi-year schedule to provide adequate time for incumbent carriers and state commissions to
make any necessary rate adjustments.For the period between July 1,2016 and June 30,2017,
the FCC will reduce support to the carriers for any lines “below $18.00 or the rate floor
established by the 2016 rate survey,whichever is lower.”See FCC 14-54 Report and Order at 4.
DECISION MEMORANDUM -I -APRIL 7,2016
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff has reviewed the filing and believes it meets the requirements set forth in the FCC
Orders.Staff recommends Commission approval of this compliance filing with an effective date
of June 1,2016.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission agree?
CL
Grace Seaman
Udmemos/coIumbin icc raw fir filing dcc rncmo
DECISION MEMORANDUM -2-APRIL 7,2016