Notice of Utility Tariff Filing

The REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA (Commission) gives notice that on October 1, 2014, the Alaska Universal Service Administrative Company (AUSAC) filed tariff advice filing TA18-998 seeking Commission approval of the 2015 Alaska Universal Service Fund (AUSF) surcharge factor. AUSAC is the entity selected by the Commission to administer the AUSF.

AUSAC proposes an AUSF surcharge factor 10.4 percent, which represents a 1.2 percent increase in the factor from the currently approved surcharge. The surcharge is calculated to allow sufficient funding for the AUSF, including carrier of last resort support, common carrier line support, support for local exchange company switching equipment, state lifeline support, public interest pay telephone support, and AUSAC’s 2015 operating budget.

Public utilities that provide intrastate telecommunications service are required to pay the AUSF surcharge to AUSAC and have the option of passing this cost on to their customers. If passed through, the surcharge appears on customers in-state billings as the “Alaska Universal Service Fund Surcharge.” The proposed 2015 AUSF surcharge factor will be approximately $5.20 on a $50 monthly billing. AUSAC has requested a January 1, 2015 effective date for TA18-998.

This notice may not contain all requested revisions and the Commission may approve a rate or classification, which varies from that proposed. You may obtain information about this filing by contacting Judy Colbert, AUSAC,at 12350 Industry Way, Suite 200, Anchorage, AK 99515; phone: (907) 561-6300. The complete filing is also available for inspection at the Commission’s office at 701 West 8^th Avenue, Suite 300, Anchorage, AK 99501; phone: (907) 276-6222, or may be viewed at the Commission’s website at http://rca.alaska.gov by typing Docket “TA18-998” in the Find the Matter search box.

To comment on this filing, please file your comments by 5:00 p.m., November 3, 2014, at the Commission’s address given above or via our website at:

https://rca.alaska.gov/RCAWeb/WhatsNew/PublicNoticesComments.aspx

Please reference TA18-998 and include a statement that you’ve filed a copy of the comments with AUSAC at its address given above.

Individuals or groups of people with disabilities, who require special accommodations, auxiliary aids or service, or alternative communication formats, please contact Joyce McGowan at (907) 276-6222, toll-free at 1-800-390-2782, TTY (907) 276-4533 or send a request via electronic mail to rca.mail@alaska.gov by October 27, 2014.

DATED at Anchorage, Alaska, this 3^rd day of October, 2014.

REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA 

Rich Gazaway