STATE OF MISSOURI

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

 

At a session of the Public Service Commission held at its office in Jefferson City on the 14th day of August, 2013.

 

 

In the Matter of the Provision of Wireless                       )

Lifeline Service as an Eligible Telecommunications          )      File No. TO-2014-0020

Carrier by TracFone Wireless, Inc., d/b/a                       )

SafeLink Wireless                                                         )

 

 

ORDER APPROVING STIPULATION AND AGREEMENT

 

Issue Date:  August 14, 2013                                 Effective Date:  August 24, 2013

 

 

On July 23, 2013, TracFone Wireless, Inc., d/b/a SafeLink Wireless (TracFone), and the Staff of the Commission filed a stipulation and agreement that purports to resolve Staff’s concerns about TracFone’s operations as an eligible telecommunications carrier – an ETC – in connection with the Universal Service Fund.  In the stipulation and agreement, TracFone agrees to make certain changes in the way that it operates and agrees to pay $18,000 to the School Fund. 

The stipulation and agreement was signed only by Staff and TracFone.  Since the Office of the Public Counsel, which is a party to all cases before the Commission[1], did not sign the stipulation and agreement, the Commission allowed any party wishing to respond to the Stipulation and Agreement until August 5 to do so.  No such response has been filed.  Since no party has objected to the Stipulation and Agreement, the Commission will treat it as a unanimous stipulation and agreement as permitted by Commission rule.[2]

The Stipulation contains terms that would be beyond the Commission’s authority to order, such as TracFone’s agreement to pay $18,000 to the School Fund.  However, the parties may agree to such terms as a means to settle their dispute. 

The Commission has reviewed the Stipulation and Agreement and finds nothing in the Stipulation and Agree­ment that is contrary to the public interest.  Therefore, the Commission will approve the Stipulation and Agreement. 

THE COMMISSION ORDERS THAT:

1.               The Stipulation and Agreement is approved.

2.               The signatories to the Stipulation and Agreement shall comply with its terms.

3.               This order shall become effective on August 24, 2013.

4.               This file shall be closed on August 25, 2013.

                                                                      BY THE COMMISSION

_Pic2                                                Morris L. Woodruff

                                                                      Secretary

 

 

 

 

R. Kenney, Chm., Jarrett, Stoll, and

W. Kenney, CC., concur.

 

Woodruff, Chief Regulatory Law Judge



[1] Section 386.710, RSMo 2000.

[2] Commission Rule 4 CSR 240-2.115(2)(C).