20020304-min.doc

MINUTES OF DECISION MEETING
MARCH 4, 2002

In attendance were Commissioners Paul Kjellander, Dennis Hansen, and Marsha Smith.

Commissioner Kjellander called the meeting to order. The first order of business was approval of the CONSENT AGENDA, items 1—4. Commissioner Hansen commented regarding item #4 that $1.5 billion seemed like an awfully lot of money. He said he has a lot of faith in Terri and since she recommended that it be approved, he would go along with it. There were no further comments or discussion and the Commissioners approved the Consent Agenda.

The next order of business was MATTERS IN PROGRESS. Commissioner Kjellander noted that the Commission would hold items #6 and #7 and take them up at a later date.

Doug Cooley’s February 28, 2002 Decision Memorandum re: Farmers Mutual Telephone Company’s Application for Broadband Equipment Tax Credit.

Mr. Cooley reviewed his Decision Memorandum. Commissioner Kjellander noted that this was the first application the Commission has received for the broadband equipment tax credit. He asked Mr. Cooley if he had any recommendations or if any adjustments needed to be made as far as handling the applications. Mr. Cooley replied that this application was fairly straight forward in that the equipment was easy to research and was already being offered to end users. He said there have been subsequent applications that seem more complex and may require more discovery or investigation. He stated that some cases will require more in-depth work and some will require less. Commissioner Kjellander moved for approval of the application. A vote was taken and the motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Kjellander stated that the only other item on the agenda was under FULLY SUBMITTED MATTERS, and the Commission would take it up under private deliberation. He then adjourned the meeting.

DATED this _____ day of March, 2002.

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COMMISSION SECRETARY