Michigan Public Service Commission Issues Order Regarding Application of Community Access Line of Thelakeshore, Inc., to Be Assigned the Telephone...

(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Michigan Public Service Commission Issues Order Regarding Application of Community Access Line of Thelakeshore, Inc., to Be Assigned the Telephone Digits 2-1-1 and Be Designated as the Community Resource Information LANSING, Mich., Jan. 31 -- The Michigan Public Service Commission issued the following order: In the matter of the application of COMMUNITY ACCESS LINE OF THE LAKESHORE, INC., to be assigned the telephone digits 2-1-1 and be designated as the community resource information and referral answering point for Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Missaukee, and Wexford Counties.

Case No. U-17167 At the January 31, 2013 meeting of the Michigan Public Service Commission in Lansing, Michigan.

PRESENT:Hon. John D. Quackenbush, Chairman Hon. Orjiakor N. Isiogu, Commissioner Hon. Greg R. White, Commissioner ORDER The abbreviated dialing number 2-1-1 may be assigned by the Commission to a community resource information and referral answering point for various geographic areas within the state. MCL 484.2214. On November 16, 2012, Community Access Line of the Lakeshore, Inc., (CALL 2-1-1) filed an application under Section 214 of the Michigan Telecommunications Act, MCL 484.2214, for designation as the 2-1-1 answering point for Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Missaukee, and Wexford Counties.

CALL 2-1-1 has been designated the community resource information and referral answering point for Charlevoix, Emmet, Muskegon, Ottawa, Mason, Oceana, Manistee, Lake, Mecosta, Newaygo, and Osceola Counties in Case Nos. U-14446, U-15348, U-15469, U-16071, U-16787, and U-17012. In fulfillment of the requirements of MCL 484.2214(3), the application includes written endorsement from the Michigan Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (MI-AIRS), Michigan 2-1-1, and the state-endorsed community collaborative bodies of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Missaukee, and Wexford Counties.

On November 30, 2012, the Commission's Executive Secretary issued a letter directing CALL 2-1-1 to publish a notice of opportunity to comment in newspapers of general circulation in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Missaukee, and Wexford Counties, and to mail the notice to the Michigan Department of the Attorney General, local exchange carriers, and all human resource agencies in those counties. CALL 2-1-1 has complied with these requirements.

District Health Department # 10, Grand Traverse Metro Emergency Services Authority, American Red Cross of Northwest Michigan, the Health and Healing Ministry, Lake City Area Chamber of Commerce, Cadillac Area YMCA, Grand Traverse Industries, Antrim County Commission on Aging, BrickWays, Wexford-Missaukee Intermediate School District, United Way of Northwest Michigan, Cadillac Wexford Friends of the Library, the City of Cadillac, Consumers Energy Company, Leelanau County Family Coordinating Council, Northwest Michigan Works, Traverse City Housing Commission, the United Way of Wexford and Missaukee Counties, Rep. Bruce R. Rendon (103rd District), the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse, Wexford County Commissioner Mark Howie, Rep. Phil Potvin (102nd District), the Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging, the Village of Bellaire, and the Township of Crystal Lake submitted comments in support of CALL 2-1-1.

Frontier North Inc., Frontier Midstates Inc., Frontier Communications of Michigan, Inc., and Frontier Communications of America, Inc. (collectively "Frontier") filed comments stating that Frontier does not object to the designation. Frontier comments that a toll free number should be required for routing 2-1-1 calls, and that assignment should be implemented on an exchange basis.

The Commission finds that CALL 2-1-1 has demonstrated that it has an appropriate framework in place for providing coverage 24 hours per day, seven days per week, and that the application should be granted. The Commission recognizes that while many activities undertaken by non-profit agencies are based on geographic boundaries such as cities and counties, telecommunications service historically has been based on exchanges, which are not defined by city and county boundaries. As in previous orders, the Commission finds that exchange boundaries should be used to determine the geographic area of a 2-1-1 designation. The Commission designates CALL 2-1-1 as the designated answering point for the following 36 exchanges: Alba, Alden, Bellaire, Beulah, Buckley, Central Lake, Clam River, East Port, Elk Rapids, Ellsworth, Elmira, Falmouth, Fife Lake, Frankfort, Glen Lake, Harrietta, Honor, Interlochen, Kalkaska, Kingsley, Lake Ann, Lake City, Lake Leelanau, Lake of the North, Mancelona, Manton, Merritt, Mesick, Moorestown, Northport, Old Mission, South Boardman, Suttons Bay, Torch River Bridge, Traverse City, and Williamsburg.

The Commission concludes that service platform issues should initially be determined between CALL 2-1-1 and the carriers, with the cost of service being a competitive issue rather than a matter subject to regulatory resolution. The Commission notes that CALL 2-1-1's applica-tion and the MI-AIRS standards1 provide assurance that 2-1-1 callers will not be assessed toll charges. The Commission will be involved in service platform issues (such as the use of current 800 numbers) only to the extent that implementation of the 2-1-1 service requires interconnection between carriers, or the parties establish another basis for Commission jurisdiction. All carriers should note that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires carriers to participate in completing calls to the 2-1-1 center.2 The Commission lacks jurisdiction under MCL 484.2401 to require payphone providers and wireless carriers to provide access to 2-1-1 service. The Commission encourages them to work with all parties to provide their customers with access to 2-1-1.

Any change to the geographic area of this designation requires Commission approval. Changes to the geographic area include making the assigned geographic area smaller (i.e., removal of exchanges) or larger (i.e., expansion to a regional area with additional exchanges). Modifications of the geographic area that may occur due to the assignment of the 2-1-1 dialing pattern in adjacent counties also require Commission approval.

Approval of the application is provisional, in part, due to the FCC's ability to recall the 2-1-1 abbreviated dialing number. In addition, the Commission retains the right to withdraw its approval should the statute change. The Commission also notes that certain other circumstances could warrant rescinding the 2-1-1 assignment, such as failure to meet the MI-AIRS standards, or a change in standing with the county collaborative bodies or Michigan 2-1-1. The approval granted by the order cannot be transferred to another entity without the Commission's approval. The relinquishment of the 2-1-1 assignment requires Commission approval. Should CALL 2-1-1 be unable to continue providing 2-1-1 service to the designated area, it shall apply to and receive approval from the Commission before discontinuing the service.

THEREFORE IT IS ORDERED that: A. Community Access Line of the Lakeshore, Inc.'s application for designation as the 2-1-1 answering point for 36 exchanges in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Missaukee, and Wexford Counties is approved.

B. Community Access Line of the Lakeshore, Inc., shall provide sufficient resources to operate the 2-1-1 telephone number 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

C. All providers of basic local exchange service within the exchanges identified in this order that are wholly or partially within the listed counties shall take the necessary steps to allow their customers to access Community Access Line of the Lakeshore, Inc., through the use of the 2-1-1 telephone number.

The Commission reserves jurisdiction and may issue further orders as necessary.

Any party desiring to appeal this order must do so by the filing of a claim of appeal in the Michigan Court of Appeals within 30 days of the issuance of this order, under MCL 484.2203(12).

MICHIGAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ________________________________________ John D. Quackenbush, Chairman By its action of January 31, 2013.

________________________________________ Orjiakor N. Isiogu, Commissioner ________________________________ Mary Jo Kunkle, Executive Secretary ________________________________________ Greg R. White, Commissioner TNS MT93 130203-4190802 61MarlizTagarum (c) 2013 Targeted News Service

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