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Commission Response to Idaho PUC EAS Decision
December 10, 2002 (2002 - 035)
Contacts: Roy Hemmingway, Chairman, 503 378-6611; Joan H. Smith, Commissioner, 503 378-6611; Lee Beyer, Commissioner, 503 378-6611; Bob Valdez, Public Information Officer, 503 378-8962
Salem, OR – The Oregon Public Utility Commission reacted today to a decision by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to dismiss a petition to establish Extended Area Service (EAS) routes with four exchanges in Oregon.
Commissioner Lee Beyer said, "Through our investigation we found a strong case for a community of interest for establishing EAS routes so Malheur County residents could make toll-free calls to Idaho, so I am very surprised with the Idaho Commission’s decision."
In May of 2000, the Oregon Commission issued an order, which found a community of interest exists between the exchanges of Slope, Nyssa, Vale and Ontario and eight exchanges in Idaho.
Because the petition would establish interstate EAS routes final approval of the routes did not rest with the Oregon Commission. It also required approval by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.
"The residents of Malheur County view the state border and, more notably, telephone exchange boundaries, as an artificial barrier separating them from their community neighbors," said Oregon Commissioner Joan Smith.
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