ORDER NO. 96-262

ENTERED OCT 10 1996

This is an electronic copy.

BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION

OF OREGON

UM 780

DISPOSITION: SURCHARGE DECREASED

House Bill 2185, enacted by the 1995 Legislature, broadens the funding base of the RSPF to ensure adequate revenues are available to meet the continued demand for the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service (OTRS), authorizes the Commission to decrease the surcharge against each paying retail subscriber who has telecommunications service with access to the OTRS, and requires an annual review of the funding balance. The surcharge may be adjusted to ensure the funding balance does not exceed six months of projected expenses.

Order No. 95-860 (August 16, 1995) adopted temporary administrative rules to comply with House Bill 2185 amendments to Section 9, ORS Chapter 290. Those rules were in effect until February 12, 1996.

The Commission’s goal is to make one surcharge adjustment during the 1995-1997 biennium and sustain an adequate funding balance within six months of projected expenses. Based on Staff’s financial analysis of the RSPF, decreasing the surcharge from 25 cents to 13 cents effective January 1, 1997 is necessary to ensure the funding balance does not exceed six months of projected expenses.

At the September 24, 1996, public meeting, the Commission adopted Staff’s recommendation to decrease the monthly surcharge for the Residential Services Protection Fund (RSPF) from 25 cents to 13 cents, effective January 1, 1997.

ORDER

IT IS ORDERED that all telecommunication providers capable of utilizing the telecommunications relay service (including wire and wireless) shall decrease the Residential Services Protection Fund surcharge collected from each paying retail subscriber who has telecommunications service with access to the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service, including any beneficiary of the Oregon Telephone Assistance Program or the Telecommunications Devices Access Program, from 25 cents to 13 cents, effective

January 1, 1997.

Made, entered, and effective .

A person may petition the Commission for the amendment or repeal of a rule pursuant to ORS 183.390. A person may petition the Court of Appeals to determine the validity of a rule pursuant to ORS 183.400.