NOTICE OF CARRIER PETITION TO TERMINATE PUBLIC INTEREST PAY TELEPHONE
The REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA (Commission) gives notice that on May 8, 2017, Matanuska Telephone Association, Inc. (MTA) filed a petition requesting approval to terminate service at the public interest pay telephone (PIPT) currently designated by the Commission for public use at a cabin owned by the Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visitors Center), located at 7744 E. Visitors View Court, Palmer, Alaska. Docket No. U-17-029 was opened to address this matter.
PIPT's are designated by the Commission based on a determination that the phones fulfill a public policy objective in health, safety, or public welfare, and would not otherwise exist as a result of the operation of a competitive marketplace. The actual net cost of the phone is funded by the Alaska Universal Service Fund.
According to the petition, since the time the PIPT was installed, the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center (Medical Center) was built across the parking lot from the Visitors Center. MTA states that there are two courtesy phones available for public use at the Medical Center. MTA states in addition, there is a new fire station a little further down the Parks Highway that has an emergency phone on the outside of the building for 911 calls. Finally, MTA provides that cell phone reception is readily available in the area; therefore, the PIPT is not necessary to the public interest.
The Commission may approve or deny, in whole or in part, the carrier’s request, impose conditions on approval, or take other actions to protect the public interest.
You may obtain more information about this petition by contacting Sonja Nelson, Regulatory Affairs Manager for MTA at 1740 South Chugach Street, Palmer, AK 99645; phone: (907) 761-2439. 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 No. “U-17-029” in the Find a Matter search box.
To comment on this filing, please file your comments by 5:00 p.m., June 10, 2017, at the Commission’s address given above or via our website at:
http://rca.alaska.gov/RCAWeb/WhatsNew/PublicNoticesComments.aspx.
Please reference Docket No. U-17-029 and include a statement that you have filed a copy of the comments with MTA at the address given above. Individuals or groups of people with disabilities who require special accommodations, auxiliary aids or service, or alternative communication formats should contact Joyce McGowan at (907) 276-6222, toll free at 1-800-390-2782 or TTY (907) 276-4533 or send a request via electronic mail to: rca.mail@alaska.gov by June 3, 2017.
DATED at Anchorage, Alaska, this 11th day of May, 2017.
REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA
Steven J. Kramer
Common Carrier Section Manager