NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE
REGULATIONS OF THE REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska (Commission) proposes, in Docket R-14-001, to adopt regulation changes in Title 3 of the Alaska Administrative Code dealing with tariffing and tariff advice filing requirements for nondominant competitive local exchange markets, including the following:
- 3 AAC 53.243(a), which is revised to expand the simplified tariff procedures of 3 AAC 53.243 to any competitive local exchange market served by a carrier that is otherwise exempt from economic regulation regardless of whether the exchange(s) has been declared nondominant by the Commission.
- 3 AAC 53.243(c), which revises the existing list of tariff advice matters and special contracts for retail rates and services that may take effect without Commission action under 3 AAC 53.243.
- 3 AAC 53.243(d), which is revised to both clarify and simplify the filing requirements for qualifying tariff advice filings made under this section to better reflect the Commission’s standard of review in truly competitive local exchange markets.
- 3 AAC 53.243(e), which simplifies and delineates the content and form of the tariffs filed by local exchange carriers that qualify for filing under 3AAC 53.243 and exempts those carriers from the tariffing provisions of 3AAC 48.330 – 3 AAC 48.340 and 3 AAC 48.360 – 3 AAC 48.380.
- 3 AAC 53.243(g), which outlines the Commission authority to reject tariff advice and special contract filings made under 3 AAC 53.243.
- 3 AAC 53.243(i), which clarifies the Commission’s authority to investigate any tariff provision or special contract filed under 3 AAC 53.243.
- 3 AAC 53.290(h) is amended to waive the requirements of 3 AAC 48.270(a) for carriers to provide revenues and numbers of customers affected in a proposed tariff or special contract filing except when filing for a rate increase or discontinuance of service.
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 Commission will accept comments via the Commission’s website at: https://rca.alaska.gov/RCAWeb/WhatsNew/PublicNoticesComments.aspx, by using the “Submit Comments” link associated with this notice. All comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 21, 2015.
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 August 18, 2015, 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-14-001.
After the public comment period ends, the Commission 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 42.05.261, AS 42.05.271, AS 42.05.291, AS 42.05.301, AS 42.05.431, AS 42.05.711, 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
Fiscal Information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
DATED at Anchorage, Alaska, this 22nd day of July, 2015.
REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA
T.W. Patch
Chairman
ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS NOTICE INFORMATION
(AS 44.62.190(g))
1. Adopting agency: Regulatory Commission of Alaska
2. General subject of regulation: Tariffing and Tariff Advice Filing Requirements for Nondominant Competitive Local Exchange Markets
3. Citation of regulation (may be grouped): 3 AAC 53.243 and 3 AAC 53.290
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 improve tariff filing regulations in competitive local exchange markets
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 16 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: David A. Lawrence
Title: Administrative Law Judge
Address: 701 W. Eighth Avenue, Suite 300
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Telephone: 907-263-2127
E-mail address david.lawrence@alaska.gov
9. The origin of the proposed action:
X Staff of state agency
_____ Federal government
_____ General public
_____ Petition for regulation change
_____ Other (identify)
10. Date: _____7/22/2015_____________ Prepared by:
[signature]
Name (printed): David A. Lawrence
Title (printed): Administrative Law Judge
Telephone: 907-263-2127