(1) Phase II shall be for determining cost and revenue impacts and for rate design.
When the commission determines that a sufficient community of interest exists
to warrant further consideration of EAS, the affected regulated local exchange
company (or companies) shall be directed, and unregulated local exchange
companies shall be requested, to perform an impact analysis. The company (or
companies) shall submit the results of the impact analysis along with rate
design proposals to the commission within 90 days after the commission order
commencing phase II (an extension of time may be granted for good cause) ,
accompanied by all necessary company prefiled testimony, including an estimated
implementation plan and schedule.
(2) The impact analysis
shall include a determination of all cost and revenue impacts from
implementation of the proposed EAS routes. These impacts include:������������
(a) losses in revenues from toll and other
discontinued services such as foreign exchange service;
(b) increases in capital costs resulting
from required additions to network capacity;
(c) net changes in operating and other
expenses;
(d) cost shifts from the interstate
jurisdiction to the intrastate jurisdiction resulting from the new EAS
arrangement;
(e) losses in switched and special access
revenues;
(f) net changes in billing and collection
revenues; and
(g) changes in switched access allocations.
(3) Proposed EAS rates shall be designed so
that EAS implementation is revenue-neutral to the affected local exchange
company (or companies) . EAS rate design will include a flat rate option and at
least one lower cost usage sensitive option. Additional rate design proposals
are not precluded (and are encouraged, to provide additional customer choices) .
Except when there is a substantial basis for shifting the cost to others, the
rates shall be designed to recover the costs of EAS from those customers who
directly benefit from EAS. The rate proposals should include a detailed
description of the costs considered, how the proposed rates recover the costs
of EAS implementation, the extent to which these costs are recovered from the
customers who directly benefit, and the extent to which these costs are shifted
to other customers.
(4) If the proposed EAS
involves two or more companies, the companies shall propose interconnection and
compensation arrangements.
(5) Following receipt of
the company's (or companies') analyses and prefiled testimony the commission
will issue notices as might then be required, providing an opportunity for
hearing and a contested case procedural order and schedule.
(6) The
commission may, on its own motion or the motion of any party, in its sole
discretion, direct that affected customers be surveyed (balloted) by mail to
ascertain customer acceptance of the proposed EAS arrangement. The survey form
(ballot) must be approved by the commission prior to distribution. The
commission may also hold public hearings in the affected areas.
(7) The
commission will conclude phase II with an order either approving or denying the
proposed EAS arrangement.
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