19971223_1.docx

MINUTES OF DECISION MEETING
December 23, 1997 - 1:30 p.m.
In attendance were: Commissioners Dennis Hansen, Ralph Nelson and Marsha H. Smith and staff members Don Howell, Brad Purdy, Cheri Copsey, Weldon Stutzman, Bill Eastlake, Wayne Hart, Terri Carlock and Myrna Walters.
Commission President Dennis Hansen called the meeting to order.
Items from the December 23, 1997 Published Agenda were considered and acted upon as follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
Items 1 thru 11 on the Consent Agenda were considered as well as the Oregon-Idaho Utilities Tariff Advice No. 3 which was a part of Item 6.
Commissioner Hansen asked if the Commissioners had questions on any of the Consent Agenda matters?
Commissioner Smith had a question on No. 9 - Wayne Hart’s December 18, 1997 Decision Memorandum re: John Morris Letter Regarding Public Interest Payphone in Glenns Ferry.
Asked if the Commission had answered Mr. Morris?
Wayne responded he had talked to Mr. Morris and let him know the Commission may be opening a docket, didn’t have the criteria on making decision at that time. U S West won’t be taking action until February.
Commissioner Smith suggested telling U S West that we are going to undertake this exercise and they should do nothing until then and tell Mr. Morris it is status quo until we decide what to do;
then made a motion to approve all the items on the consent agenda.
Motion carried unanimously.
12. Cheri C. Copsey’s December 17, 1997 Decision Memorandum re: In the Matter of U S West Communications, Inc.’s Application to be Designated as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier - Case No. USW-T-97-19;
and 13. Cheri C. Copsey’s December 17, 1997 Decision Memorandum re: In the Matter of Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative, Inc.’s, Citizens Telecommunications Company of Idaho’s, Gem State Utilities Corporation dba PTI Communications; and Pine Telephone systems, Inc.’s Requests to be Designated as Eligible Telecommunications Carriers - Case Nos. BTC-T-97-1, CTC-T-97-6, GEM-T-97-1 and PIN-T-97-1.
Cheri reviewed the memos; said these were the last of the requests for ETC status. Staff has recommended granting these. U S West has asked for wire center level for both Northern and Southern areas and others have requested study area for their ETC status.
Commissioner Nelson made a motion to approve staff recommendations on these matters; motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Smith asked if we should let the FCC know we are done?
Cheri responded a letter will be sent to the FCC informing them of that.
14. Brad Purdy’s December 18, 1997 Decision Memorandum re: Case no. ACM-T-97-2; Application of Atlas Communications, Ltd. for Authority to Provide Local Exchange Carrier Services in the State of Idaho.
Brad reviewed the memo. Said staff believes that the application does not meet all procedural requirements and has listed options Commission can take.
Commissioner Nelson said he shared staff’s view that this application has problems and would move the application be denied.
Brad noted that this needed to be brought to the attention of the Commissioners  at this time because staff has made several requests to the company.
Commissioner Smith said she probably would have given the company 30 days to comply but on the other hand they should know what they are doing.
Vote was taken on Commissioner Nelson’s motion; passed unanimously.
Application will be denied, without prejudice to refile.
15. Terri Carlock’s December 19, 1997 Decision Memorandum re: Council Telephone Company Requests Authority to Borrow Up to $300,000 From Cobank, Case No. COU-T-97-2.
Terri reviewed the memo. Company will use the variable rate, can convert to fixed if interest rates start going up. Terri spoke to the loan origination fee. Was told that was a minimum of Cobank. Company assures Terri that it will still be less costly than U S Bank loan. Company didn’t seem to have a problem with the requirement of considering this in the next rate case.
Commissioner Hansen asked Terri about the $1,500 loan origination fee being cost effective - how would she have any better information during  a rate case, rather than currently?
Terri said they would have to keep the information (until they implement the loan) to show the cost effectiveness compared to current rates in the market. Could do that but the rates wouldn’t change until the next rate case so they usually prefer to have it then.
Cheri Copsey commented that wording in the order says the issue is open.
Terri said she didn’t anticipate a problem but thought the amount was high given the amount of the borrowing. It would be standard to look at it. Said many institutions don’t even have an origination amount.
Commissioner Hansen asked if company feels with loan rate that they are below the bank without the origination fee, they believe they can demonstrate it is cost effective?
Terri said they do.
Commissioner Hansen then made a motion to approve the application.
Motion carried unanimously.
Bill Eastlake asked for clarification on Item 5 on the Consent Agenda - explained U S West’s filing regarding the 25 cent minimum.  
Commissioners Hansen and Nelson approved company request; Commissioner Smith voted no. Indicated that the minutes were sufficient to register her vote; no need to do an order. **Accepted filing as submitted.
Meeting was then adjourned.
Dated at Boise, Idaho, this 26th day of December, 1997.
Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary