On Friday, November 16, 2012, Qwest Corporation d/b/a CenturyLink-QC ("CenturyLink" or the "Company), the dominant incumbent local exchange carrier in Arizona, filed an application ("Application") with the Arizona Corporation Commission ("ACC" or "Commission") seeking to set or to increase the maximum tariffed rates for certain competitive telecommunications services, pursuant to A.A.C. R14-2-1110 (“Rule 1110") .
According to CenturyLink's Application, CenturyLink’s regulated local retail telecommunications services have been classified as competitive by the Commission, or have been classified under the recent 2012 Competitive Classification Order’ as competitive subject to conditions. By the Company's Application, CenturyLink seeks to set maximum tariff rates for certain services that are competitive subject to conditions defined in the Settlement approved by the Commission in Decision 73354 issued on August 21, 2012, and to increase the maximum rate for one service that is competitive but not subject to conditions.
On Tuesday, November 27, 2012, RUCO filed an application to intervene in the matter.
On Friday, February 8, 2013, the Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") assigned to the matter issued a Procedural Order that granted RUCO's intervention in the matter and scheduled a procedural conference for 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 1200 W. Washington in Phoenix. During the procedural conference, the parties to the case will discuss the processing of CenturyLink's Application with the ALJ.
On Thursday, February 28, 2013, ACC Staff filed a Staff Report and a Proposed Order on CenturyLink's request recommending that CenturyLink's application for a maximum rate increase be granted without a hearing, that prior to raising actual rates for services affected by the Company's application, CenturyLink provide both the Commission and its customers notice as required under Arizona law including the Commission's rules, and that CenturyLink's directory assistance request be bifurcated from this proceeding and be dealt with at a later time.
By a vote of 5 - 0, the ACC voted to approve the Proposed Order during the Regular Open Meeting on Tuesday, March 12, 2013.
