NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE REGULATIONS
OF THE REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska (Commission) proposes, in Docket R-13-001, to adopt regulation changes in Title 3 of the Alaska Administrative Code dealing with Intrastate Interexchange Carrier of Last Resort (IXC COLR) assignment and duties, including the following:
(1) 3 AAC 52.390(c), which designates the incumbent interexchange carrier as the IXC COLR for the entire state, is proposed to be repealed. The intended effect of this repeal is to clarify the rules for IXC COLR assignment through the regulations proposed in 3 AAC 52.382 – 3 AAC 52.399.
(2) 3 AAC 52.390(n), which requires general interexchange carrier financial reporting to the Commission, is proposed to be repealed. The intended effect of this repeal is to relocate these reporting requirements to 3 AAC 52.382(d).
(3) 3 AAC 52.382 – 3 AAC 52.399 is proposed to be changed as follows: to revise the obligations and duties of an IXC COLR and establish procedures related to the assignment, reassignment, and elimination of an IXC COLR.
(4) 3 AAC 53.210 is proposed to be changed as follows: to require local exchange carriers seeking to provide telephone service in a previously unserved exchange to first notify the Commission in order to prompt selection and assignment of an IXC COLR for the service location.
You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska at 701 West 8th Avenue, Suite 300, Anchorage, Alaska 99501. Additionally, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska will accept comments via the Commission’s website at: https://rca.alaska.gov/RCAWeb/WhatsNew/PublicNoticesComments.aspx. Initial comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., on November 14, 2014 and should reference Docket R-13-001. Reply comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., on December 15, 2014.
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Joyce McGowan at (907) 276-6222, toll-free at 1-800-390-2782 or TTY (907) 276-4533 no later than three business days before the relevant public comment period ends to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.
Since this is a regulation proceeding, commenters are not required to serve their comments on other entities or persons set out on the service list of this Notice. Interested persons may request from the Commission copies of the comments filed in this proceeding. For a copy of the proposed regulation changes and related material contact the Commission’s Records & Filings Section at the above address or at (907) 276-6222 or go to: http://rca.alaska.gov/RCAWeb/home.aspx. Those seeking to obtain the materials at the above website must pick “All Open Rulemaking Dockets” under Top Searches and choose matter number R-13-001.
After the public comment period ends, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulations may be different from that of the proposed regulations. YOU SHOULD COMMENT DURING THE TIME ALLOWED IF YOUR INTERESTS COULD BE AFFECTED. Written comments received are public records and are subject to public inspection.
Statutory Authority: AS 42.05.141, AS 42.05.145, AS 42.05.151, AS 42.05.221, AS 42.05.241, AS 42.05.291, AS 42.05.711, AS 42.05.800, AS 42.05.990
Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific: AS 42.05.141, AS 42.05.145, AS 42.05.151, AS 42.05.291, AS 42.05.800
Fiscal Information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
DATE: October 15, 2014 Robert M. Pickett, Chairman
ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS NOTICE INFORMATION
(AS 44.62.190(d))
1. Adopting agency: Regulatory Commission of Alaska
2. General subject of regulation: Intrastate Interexchange Carrier of Last Resort assignment and duties
3. Citation of regulation (may be grouped): 3 AAC 52.382, 3 AAC 52.384, 3 AAC 52.386, 3 AAC 52.387,
3 AAC 53.210
4. Department of Law file number, if any
5. Reason for the proposed action:
( ) Compliance with federal
( ) Compliance with new or changed state statute
( ) Compliance with court order
( ) Development of program standards
( X ) Other: (please list) To establish specific interexchange carrier of last resort obligations and address the process by which those obligations may be reassigned or eliminated. To introduce the concept of an emergency interexchange carrier of last resort, provide new definitions, and address the establishment of an interexchange carrier of last resort for currently unserved local exchange areas.
6. Appropriation/Allocation: Regulatory Commission of Alaska
7. Cost of implementation to the state agency and available funding (in thousands of dollars):
Initial Year Subsequent
FY 15 Years
Operating Cost $ 0 $ 0
Capital Cost $ 0 $ 0
1002 Federal receipts $ 0 $ 0
1003 General fund match $ 0 $ 0
1004 General fund $ 0 $ 0
1005 General fund/
program $ 0 $ 0
1037 General fund/
mental health $ 0 $ 0
Other $ 0 $ 0
8. The name of the contact person for the regulations:
Name Rich Gazaway
Title Administrative Law Judge
Address 701 W. Eighth Avenue, Suite 300
Anchorage, AK 99501
Telephone 907-263-2164
E-mail address richard.gazaway@alaska.gov
9. The origin of the proposed action:
Staff of state agency
Federal government
General public
X Petition for regulation change
Other (identify)
10. Date: __________________ Prepared by: _____________________________
[signature]
Name (printed) Richard Gazaway
Title (printed) Administrative Law Judge
Telephone: 907-263-2164