19990216_1.docx

MINUTES OF DECISION MEETING
February 16, 1999 - 1:30 p.m.
In attendance were Commissioners Dennis Hansen, Marsha H. Smith and Paul Kjellander and staff members Weldon Stutzman, Ron Law, Doug Cooley, Carolee Hall, Birdelle Brown, Bev Barker, Joe Cusick, Keith Hessing, Tonya Clark, Rick Sterling, David Scott, Bill Eastlake, Stephanie Miller  and Myrna Walters.
Commissioner President Dennis Hansen called the meeting to order; he welcomed new Commissioner Paul Kjellander.
Items from the Published February 16, 1999 Agenda were discussed and acted upon as follows.
First order of business was approval of minutes from previous decision meetings; in particular, Minutes of the February 8, 1999 Decision Meeting (minutes had circulated to the Commissioners for their review and corrections had been made).
Commissioner Hansen made a motion to approve the minutes; vote was taken; passed unanimously.
Next to be considered were Items 2, 3 and 4 on the Consent Agenda.
Commissioner Hansen asked if there were questions or comments on any of the items?
Commissioner Smith made a motion to approve the items but did comment that it was her understanding that decision memos for items on the Consent Agenda were not to ask questions of the Commissioners but were to only make recommendations.
Weldon Stutzman said that was duly noted for the future.
Commissioner Hansen then asked if there were other comments or questions; hearing none, vote was taken; motion carried unanimously.
Commissioners then took up Matters in Progress.
5. Weldon Stutzman’s February 10, 1999 Decision Memorandum re: Case No. ALB-T-98-03; Application of Albion Telephone Company and Westel, Inc. for Authorization of Merger.
Weldon reviewed the memo; staff is recommending approval of the merger but also recommended including clarifying language in the order.
Commissioner Hansen called for questions or discussion.
Commissioner Kjellander asked Weldon about a statement on the first page of the decision memo,  speaking to identifying concern over particular issues, what were those issues?
Weldon responded they were from a related case and were primarily reducing administrative costs and simplifying operations for the companies.
Commissioner Kjellander also questioned custom calling and CLASS features?
Carolee Hall responded that custom calling included call forwarding, caller id, etc., those services in addition to basic local service; but she couldn’t recall what CLASS was the acronym for.  She would get that information so it could be spelled out in the order.
Commissioner Kjellander asked about the reference on page 2 of the decision memo - a sentence that ends “which should translate into more efficient operations for customers”. Asked if there was currently a problem with efficiency?
Weldon said he was just referring to future efficiency as a result of the merger.
Commissioner Hansen then asked about the access rate of $.062635 - is that the rate for all small telphone companies?
Carolee replied that it was the statewide average.
Commissioner Hansen then made a motion to approve the application and to include the language recommended by staff, in the final order. Discussion was called for; hearing none, vote was taken; motion carried unanimously.
6. Doug Cooley’s February 11, 1999 Decision Memorandum re: U S West Tariff Revision to Change ISDN Single Line Service Flat Rates and Add Standard and Optional Features.
Doug reviewed the decision memorandum; said staff has reviewed the changes and finds that the revisions are reasonable and recommends  approval.
Commissioner Hansen had a question. Asked why this was being brought to the attention of the Commissioners?
Doug replied it was a result of U S West filing for uniform rates on ISDN.
Commissioner Kjellander asked what the difference was between “measured” customers and “measured with allowance” customers?
Doug replied that measured service is a per minute use fee and measured with allowance is for hours above that.
Commissioner Smith made a motion to approve the filing; vote was taken; motion carried unanimously.
7. Doug Cooley’s February 11, 1999 Decision Memorandum re: U S West Tariff Revision to Introduce Internet Listing Package Options.
Doug reviewed the decision memo. Staff has recommended approval of the filing.
Commissioner Hansen called for discussion or questions.
Commissioner Smith made a motion to approve the filing; vote was taken; motion carried unanimously.
Decision meeting was then adjourned. All items on the agenda had been acted on.
Dated at Boise, Idaho, this 22nd day of February, 1999.
Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary