Notice of Utility Tariff Filing
The REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA (Commission) gives notice that on October 1, 2015, the Alaska Universal Service Administrative Company (AUSAC) filed tariff advice filing TA19-998 seeking Commission approval of the 2016 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 11.5 percent, which represents a 1.1 percentage point 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 2016 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 2016 AUSF surcharge factor will be approximately $5.75 on a $50 monthly billing. AUSAC has requested a January 1, 2016 effective date for TA19-998.
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 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 “TA19-998” in the Find a Matter search box.
To comment on this filing, please file your comments by 5:00 p.m., November 5, 2015, at the Commission’s address given above or via our website at:
https://rca.alaska.gov/RCAWeb/WhatsNew/PublicNoticesComments.aspx
Please reference TA19-998 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 29, 2015.
DATED at Anchorage, Alaska, this 6th day of October, 2015.
REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA
Steven J. Kramer
Common Carrier Section Manager