052213_ITSAPTRS.pdf

Idaho Public Utilities Commission
Case Nos. GNR-T-13-03, Order No. 32787
Case No. GNR-T-13-02, Order No. 32768
May 22, 2013
Contact: Gene Fadness [phone], 890-2712

Telephone surcharges decreasing June 1

A surcharge that helps to ensure low-income Idahoans, including many senior citizens,
have access to local dial-tone service for medical and other emergencies, will decrease
from 7 cents per month to 3 cents for each business, residential and wireless phone line
in Idaho effective June 1.

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission agreed to decrease the surcharge for the Idaho
Telecommunications Service Assistance Program (ITSAP) due to decreased participation
and a reduction in the state portion of the credit qualifying customers get from $3.50
per month to $2.50.

Those customers who live on non-tribal lands who qualify for ITSAP receive a combined
federal and state monthly discount of $12.75 from their telephone bills, though that will
decrease to $11.75 on July 1.

Program eligibility is determined by the state Department of Health and Welfare and
the Idaho Public Utilities Commission establishes the amount of surcharge necessary to
fund the program.

During 2012, an average of 23,434 Idahoans per month received ITSAP assistance, down
7 percent from the average of 25,310 in 2011. The number of wireline access lines
continues to decline, with a 4 percent drop during 2012 while wireless (cellular) lines
increased by 13 percent. The average number of wireline access lines was 491,572 in
Idaho during 2012, compared to 512,672 in 2011. Wireless access lines increased from
1,132,234 in 2011 to 1,276,830 in 2012.

The new 3-cent per line charge is effective June 1. The surcharge has been as high as 12
cents per line per month in past years.

In a related case, the commission decided to leave at current levels the funding for the
Idaho Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS), which assists hearing and speech
impaired telecommunications users.

The TRS allows hearing and speech impaired citizens to use telephones via a relay center
that converts oral conversation to text-type and vice versa. The service is funded by an
assessment on residential and business lines of 2 cents per month and a charge of two-
tenths of 1 cent per minute on intrastate long distance calls.

Use of the service is declining due to advancing technology in Internet-based services
and cell phone texting.

During 2012, the relay center handled 48,685 minutes of traffic compared to 70,995
during 2011, a 19 percent decrease. Although the number of captioned telephone
service sets increased by 10 percent, usage decreased by 22 percent.

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