Opinion ID: 2227782
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: psc's investigation

Text: Based on the NPPD's agreements with the NCC and the city of Norfolk, the PSC, on its own motion, opened an investigation to determine whether the NPPD was offering intrastate telecommunications services on a for-hire basis, such that the NPPD would be subject to the PSC's jurisdiction. Petitions for formal intervention were then filed by the Nebraska Independent Telephone Association; Benkelman Telephone Company, Inc.; Wauneta Telephone Co.; Henderson Cooperative Telephone Co.; AT & T Communications of the Midwest, Inc.; and the Nebraska Telephone Association. The Nebraska Telephone Association asked that the PSC address whether the NPPD was eligible to receive a certificate of public convenience and necessity, considering Neb.Rev.Stat. §§ 75-604 and 70-625 (Reissue 1996) and the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, 47 U.S.C. §§ 151 to 614 (1994 & Supp. II 1996), and that the PSC order the NPPD to cease and desist from providing telecommunications services. The PSC held a hearing on March 25, 1997, and concluded that it had jurisdiction over the NPPD pursuant to Neb.Rev.Stat. § 75-109 (Reissue 1996). The PSC issued an order finding that the NPPD was providing telecommunications services to the NCC and the city of Norfolk on a for-hire basis, not as a common carrier but as a contract carrier, and that the NPPD was offering these services without a certificate of public convenience and necessity, as required by § 75-604. The PSC also found that it should seek the opinion of the Attorney General as to whether the NPPD, if granted a certificate of public convenience and necessity, could continue to provide the above-described services. Accordingly, the PSC ordered that the investigation remain open until further guidance was received from the Attorney General. The Attorney General issued an opinion on September 4, 1997, which indicated that the NPPD lacked the statutory authority to provide telecommunications services for hire under §§ 75-604 and 70-625, and that this absence of authority precluded the PSC from issuing a certificate of public convenience and necessity to the NPPD. Att'y Gen. Op. No. 97045 (Sept. 4, 1997). On October 20, 1997, the PSC held another hearing, this time to determine which certificated carriers, if any, would be able to offer telecommunications services in place of those services being provided by the NPPD to the NCC and the city of Norfolk, and to ascertain when a carrier could do so and at what price. After hearing evidence concerning the ability of other carriers to provide services similar to those provided by the NPPD, the PSC found that U S West could provide similar services to the NCC and South Sioux City for an annual charge of $24,300.72. The PSC likewise concluded that U S West could provide similar services to the city of Norfolk. Based on the Attorney General's opinion, the PSC also concluded that the NPPD lacked statutory authority to provide telecommunications services and ordered the NPPD to cease and desist from offering such services no later than December 31.