NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES
IN THE ANNUAL OPERATIONS REPORTING REQUIREMENTS REGULATIONS
OF THE REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA
The REGULATORY COMMISSION of ALASKA (Commission) proposes, in Docket R-15-005, to adopt regulations in Title 3 of the Alaska Administrative Code dealing with the annual operations reporting requirements of regulated utilities. Specifically, the Commission is considering revisions to reporting requirements of public utilities that provide intrastate interexchange and local exchange telecommunications service. Annual operations reporting requirement revisions for electric, natural gas, and water/wastewater utilities will be issued for public comment at a future date.
For intrastate interexchange carriers (IXCs), the Commission is considering:
- changing the filing due date from March 31 to April 30, and replacing the current reporting requirements with the information required by the Commission since 2005 under directive of the Commission Chairman; and
- requiring that verified financial statements be filed to satisfy the IXCs’ AS 42.05.451(b) annual operations reporting requirements.
For local exchange carriers (LECs), the Commission is considering:
- changing the filing due date from March 31 to April 30, and replacing the current reporting requirements with the information required by the Commission since 2005 under directive of the Commission Chairman;
- requiring that verified financial statements be filed to satisfy the LECs’ AS 42.05.451(b) annual operations reporting requirements; and
- requiring incumbent LECs with certificated IXC affiliates to annually file a certificate of compliance with cost allocation principles prescribed by 47 C.F.R. 64.901.
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 its website at:
https://rca.alaska.gov/RCAWeb/WhatsNew/PublicNoticesComments.aspx
Comments may also be submitted through the Alaska Online Public Notice System, by accessing this notice on the system and using the “comment” link. Initial comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., on Friday, February 19, 2016, and should reference Docket R-15-005. Reply comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., March 11, 2016 and should also reference Docket R-15-005.
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, TTY (907) 276-4533, via electronic mail to rca.mail@alaska.gov no later than Friday, February 12, 2016 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.
Since this is a regulation proceeding, commenters are not required to serve their comments on the other entities 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 website may select “All Open Rule-making Dockets” under Top Searches, and choose Matter Number “R-15-005.”
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 42.05.151
Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific: AS 42.05.141; AS 42.05.145; AS 42.05.151; AS 42.05.291; AS 42.05.451; AS 42.05.711; AS 42.05.800; AS 42.05.990.
Fiscal Information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
DATED at Anchorage, Alaska, this 20th day of January, 2016.
REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA
T.W. Patch
Chairman
ADDITIONAL REGULATION NOTICE INFORMATION
(AS 44.62.190(g))
1. Adopting agency: Regulatory Commission of Alaska
2. General subject of regulation: Annual Operations Reporting Obligations
3. Citation of regulation (may be grouped): 3 AAC 52.390 and 3 AAC 53.290
4. Department of Law file number, if any: Not yet assigned
5. Reason for the proposed action:
( ) Compliance with federal law
( ) Compliance with new or changed state statute
( ) Compliance with court order
( ) Development of program standards
( X) Other (identify): Update to annual operations reporting requirements for telecommunications utilities.
6. Appropriation/Allocation: N/A
7. Cost of implementation to the state agency and available funding (in thousands of dollars):
Initial Year Subsequent
FY 2016 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
Other (identify) $ 0 $ 0
8. The name of the contact person for the regulation:
Name: Richard Gazaway
Title: Advisory Section Manager
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:
__X_ Staff of state agency
_____ Federal government
_____ General public
_____ Petition for regulation change
_____ Other (identify)
10. Date:_January 20, 2016_ Prepared by:
[signature]
Name (printed) T.W. Patch
Title (printed): Chairman
Telephone: 907-276-6222