19920106.docx

Minutes of Decision Meeting
January 6, 1992 - 2:05 p.m.
In attendance were:
Commissioners Marsha H. Smith, Joe Miller and Ralph Nelson and staff members Mike Gilmore, Tonya Clark, Syd Lansing, Birdelle Brown, Randy Lobb, Stephanie Miller, Dave Schunke, Belinda Anderson, Don Howell, Gary Richardson, Jim Long, Lori Mann, Don Oliason and Myrna Walters.
**Also in attendance were:  Dan Poole and Ron Lightfoot of U. S. West.
The following are Minutes taken at the meeting and transcribed by me, Myrna Walters, Commission Secretary.
Items considered are those listed on the January 6, 1992 Agenda.
1.  Birdelle Brown's January 2, 1992 Decision Memorandum re:  U S West Tariff Advice Nos. 91-8-S and 91-11-N Direct Inward Dial Two-Way Call Transfer, Trunk and Circuit Termination.
Birdelle Brown reported that she has now received from U. S. West the information she needed.  Has not had a chance to review it.  The filings are to be effective January 11 and the next scheduled decision meeting is January 13.
Commissioner Smith said there may be a decision meeting Friday, January 10.  
Commissioner Nelson asked Birdelle Brown if she was going to review costs?
Birdelle Brown responded she was.
**Matter will be considered on Friday, after Birdelle Brown's review.
2.  Mike Gilmore's December 18, 1991 Decision Memorandum re:  Case No. 31.D-R-91-1--THE INMATE Telephone Rules.
Commissioner Miller questioned the definition of "institution of confinements" on Appendix A.  Asked if it added anything to expand on that, or does it create ambiguities?
Mike Gilmore said he couldn't think of anything so just put that in.
Commissioner Miller suggested - could see if we get any comments on that when they go out for comment.  If we can think of a definition, we should say what confined and what isn't.
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**Asked staff to think about it.
**Bev Barker, Lynn Anderson and Eileen Benner were in attendance at this time.
Page 3 - Rule 11.2 -
Questioned "accepting calls from pay telephone instruments".  How are you going to accomplish that?
Mike Gilmore explained.
How is the toll free number to be accessed?
Belinda Anderson explained.
Mike Gilmore said - acceptable has two meanings.  The OSP can prevent inmate from calling.  The inmate doesn't necessarily have the right to complaint.
The OSP shouldn't make it impossible for the called party...toll free number can be blocked to the inmate.
**Was decided rewording was needed here.
Page 4 - Inmate environment - need substitution for that wording.
**Commissioners did approve putting the proposed rules out for comment - comment period will be extended from what was in the original proposal since they had been delayed from December 18 to January 6 on the agenda.
3.  Lori Mann's December 11, 1991 Decision Memorandum re:  Buhl EAS Petition; Case No. USW-T-91-4.
Commissioner Nelson was chairman.  He led the discussion at this decision meeting.
Commissioner Nelson reviewed the matter.  Hearing was held on October 23.  Thought strongest point made at the hearing was senior citizens calling Twin Falls (hospitals and doctors).  However, it was his impression that most of the things that Commission looks at in considering EAS, such as schools, emergency services, etc., local business, were present in Buhl and in fact there were medical facilities in Buhl.  There is the additional problem of leap-frogging Filer Mutual if Commission decides on EAS.  So while call volumes are fairly high, felt that the basic services required were present in Buhl and that granting EAS would create further problems that he didn't want to deal with.
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Commissioner Miller said he guessed he ended up feeling like Commissioner Nelson.  Reviewed the record.  The number of services that are available without toll call - business, government, school, does distinguish this from Eden/Hazelton.  There are also some medical services.  Those factors pointed away from EAS.  Those pointing toward EAS was the testimony of small businessmen that long distance calling was an impediment to their businesses.  There are legitimate concerns.  There was also testimony regarding increased emergency medical services.  Things are migrating to Twin Falls so that points towards EAS.  At the same time there is existing Metropac arrangement and the cost recovery of 1/2 a million dollars is a question no one had a real answer for.  Simply changing the rate group only raised a small sum.  Also think that we should strive for some consistency in these EAS decisions.  If we don't do EAS in Albion, couldn't reconcile it here.  So, guess he was inclined to deny the petition but in more general terms, am concerned that our EAS process - don't know what the answer is - but that this process is somehow flawed that at least arguably the availability of EAS can turn on how good a job the petitioners do so EAS can become unfairly distributed.  Should we start thinking along lines of Washington or Oregon or Colorado approach of more formalized set of guidelines and then somehow apply those to areas of the state in question?  Coeur d'Alene is still a problem.  Don't know if we have solved Twin Falls either.  Maybe we need to figure out the major cities and to investigate and apply set of criteria and then at least you come out with a better decision if there isn't funding.  Mechanism in mind might be flawed.  That is the long and short of it.
Commissioner Smith said her thoughts are along those same lines.  Was trying to think of a system of uniformity of criteria but it always comes down to how are you going to pay for it?  Only way you could see that happening is if the larger exchanges got rate increases and couldn't figure out why we would increase the majority of U. W. West customers and make ourselves unpopular or at least talked about.  It is kind of hard when you are being revenue neutral.  
Commissioner Miller said if anyone can think of how we could do this better, would be open to that.  Commission has always wanted discretion.  If we can figure out a way to solve these legitimate problems and give up some of our discretion, would do that.
Commissioner Smith said Commission should also refer to Albion language about communities that look to larger cities.  The same concerns exist here.
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Commissioner Miller said some of the traditional standards eliminate Buhl because it is an entity within itself.  It is an independent entity.  Ought to have a better way to consider a metropolitan calling area.
Commissioner Miller said in reading through the transcript, Belinda Anderson indicates that when she was going through call volumes, etc., those were provided to her under proprietary basis so they are general rather than specific.  Asked if Commission didn't do a rule on handling priority information?  Is that rule being followed?
Lori Mann said she recalled seeing a letter from U. S. West on this particular matter.
Commissioner Miller said he would like to make sure this is being followed.  Would like to be sure our rule is being followed.
Agreed to denial of EAS for Buhl.
4.  Mike Gilmore's January 3, 1992 Decision Memorandum re:  Case No. GNR-T-91-10--The "Private-Line Investigation: for AT&T Service between Lewiston and Moscow.
Commissioner Miller said he didn't know if he has a better answer on this.
**Commissioners decided they needed more time on this.
Extra Item - Washington Water Power depreciation.
Commissioner Nelson asked about 10.4.
this is taking the study and factoring in changes Washington Commission wants?
Syd Lansing said from what they are doing now, they shortened the lives (had to do with remaining life).
Commissioner Nelson said he would approved it.
**All Commissioners approved the proposed Stephanie Miller letter.
Meeting adjourned at 2:40 p.m.
Dated at Boise, ID, this 11th day of February, 1992.
Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary
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