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Home My WebLink About20210202_mh1.pdfDECISION MEMORANDUM 1 DECISION MEMORANDUM TO: COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER COMMISSIONER RAPER COMMISSIONER ANDERSON COMMISSION SECRETARY COMMISSION STAFF LEGAL FROM: MATT HUNTER DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL DATE: JANUARY 28, 2021 SUBJECT: IN THE MATTER OF STARLINK SERVICES, LLC’S APPLICATION FOR DESIGNATION AS AN ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIER FOR PURPOSES OF RECEIVING RURAL DIGITAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND SUPPORT; CASE NO. SSL-T-21-01. On January 4, 2021, Starlink Services, LLC (“Starlink”) applied for designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (“ETC”) in Idaho. THE APPLICATION Starlink is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (“SpaceX”). Application at 1. SpaceX was a winning bidder at the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (“RDOF”) auction to provide satellite broadband and standalone voice services in 35 states, including Idaho. Id. at 5. Starlink states SpaceX assigned its winning bids to Starlink. Id. Starlink explains that “receipt of RDOF support is contingent on Starlink Services receiving an ETC designation from the Idaho Public Utilities Commission by June 7, 2021.” Id. at 1, Exhibit 2. As part of its Application, Starlink includes a list of all of the census blocks in Idaho where it is requesting to be designated an ETC. Application, Exhibit 1. Starlink asserts it meets all federal and state requirements for designation as an ETC, and argues that designating Starlink as an ETC is in the public interest. Application at 8-18. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the Commission issue a Notice of Application and Notice of Modified Procedure, setting a March 11, 2021 comment deadline and a March 25, 2021 reply comment deadline. DECISION MEMORANDUM 2 COMMISSION DECISION Does the Commission wish to issue a Notice of Application and Notice of Modified Procedure, setting a March 11, 2021 comment deadline and a March 25, 2021 reply comment deadline? __________________________ Matt Hunter Deputy Attorney General I:\Legal\TELEPHONE\SSL-T-21-01\SSLT2101_dec memo_mh.docx