Supplemental Notice of Joint Utility Application to Temporarily Suspend Service & Carrier of Last Resort Obligations
The REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA (“Commission”) provides additional notice of a joint application filed on June 9, 2015 by Alaska Telephone Company (“ATC”) and Alaska Power Company (“APC”) (collectively Alaska Power & Telephone Company (“AP&T”) to temporarily suspend wireline telephone and electric service in Healy Lake, Alaska (“Application”) for the period of April 14, 2015 through December 31, 2015 (“Suspension Period”). Dockets U-15-085 (ATC) and U-15-086 (APC) were opened to address the joint Application.
According to the company, AP&T does not have any wireline telephone or electric service customers in the Healy Lake service area and temporarily suspended service to the community during the week of March 16, 2015. AP&T states that the company does not anticipate the need for utility provided wireline telephone or electric service in Healy Lake for the foreseeable future and does not intend to provide or act upon any new requests for service during the proposed Suspension Period.
As the Carrier of Last Resort (“COLR”) for wireline telephone service in Healy Lake, ATC is required to provide and maintain adequate, efficient and safe facilities-based retail and carrier-to-carrier telecommunication service throughout its COLR area. 3 AAC 53.265(u) states that a COLR may not discontinue, suspend, abandon or diminish the quality of essential retail and carrier-to-carrier services in any portion of its COLR area until (1) the Commission finds that the public interest requires modification, termination or transfer of the COLR designation, (2) the Commission designates by order an alternative COLR, (3) an alternative carrier is meeting the COLR requirements throughout the COLR area, and (4) the Commission issues an order withdrawing COLR status.
Alaska Statute 42.05.261(a) provides that a public utility may not discontinue or abandon service unless, after notice and an opportunity for hearing, the Commission finds that continued service is not required by the public convenience and necessity. A hearing will be scheduled by the Commission in a future order to allow interested persons to voice their support for or opposition to AP&T’s proposed temporary suspension of wireline telephone and electric service and COLR obligations in Healy Lake. All interested persons will be invited to attend and make comments at the hearing.
No motion for waiver or petition for confidentiality was filed with the Application.
You may obtain information about the Application by contacting Anthony S. Guerriero, Brena, Bell & Clarkson, P.C., Attorney for AP&T, at 810 N Street, Suite 100, Anchorage, AK 99501; phone: (907) 258-2000. The complete Application is also available for inspection at the Commission’s office at 701 West 8th 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 “U-15-085” or “U-15-086” in the Find a Matter search box.
To comment on the Application, please file your comments by 5:00 p.m., September 18, 2015, at the Commission’s address given above or via our website at:
https://rca.alaska.gov/RCAWeb/WhatsNew/PublicNoticesComments.aspx
Please reference the docket number and include a statement that you’ve filed a copy of the comments with the attorney for AP&T 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 September 11, 2015.
DATED at Anchorage, Alaska, this 19th day of August, 2015.
REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA
T.W. Patch
Chairman