Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 1998.12.10 - 25293REPORT December 10, 1998 BY: GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE, NANCY DINGELDEY, CHAIRPERSON IN RE: MR #98197 - AGAINST PRIMARY INTEREXCHANGE CARRIER CHARGE (PICC) FOR MULTI-LINE BUSINESS CUSTOMERS TO THE OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: The General Government Committee, having considered the above- referenced resolution on November 30, 1998, reports with the recommendation that the resolution be adopted with the resolution amended as follows: MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #98197 BY: Commissioner David L. Moffitt, District #18 IN RE: AGAINST PRIMARY INTEREXCHANGE CARRIER CHARGE (PICC) FOR MULTI-LINE BUSINESS AND RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: WHEREAS the Primary Interexchange Carrier Charge (PICC) being initiated in Michigan by local telephone service providers is a flat monthly per line access charge on long-distance service originating and concluding within the State's boundaries; and WHEREAS according to the Michigan Telecommunications Act, local carriers can mirror Federal access charges without Michigan Public Service Commission review and therefore can charge as much as they want for the intrastate PICC, as long as it does not exceed the $2.75 Federal interstate PICO; and WHEREAS in Michigan, Ameritech is levying a $2.40 per line, per month Primary Interexchange Carrier Charge on all business customers AND A $.52 CHARGE FOR THE FIRST LINE AND $1.51 CHARGE FOR THE SECOND AND ANY ADDITIONAL LINES. GTE, Michigan's other major local telephone service provider, has implemented a PICC of $2.75 per business line per month; and WHEREAS the PICC levied on the small businesses AND RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS in Michigan far exceeds the amount that other states in the Midwest (Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois) pay, resulting in Michigan telephone users providing over half of the ?ICC revenues that Ameritech will collect from the Midwest region; and WHEREAS the over 40,000 businesses located in Oakland County are a driving force behind the State's economy and an indispensable source of job creation - employing over 854,000 people. The PICC imposes a regulatory constraint on business development in general and an undue burden on small businesses in particular; and WHEREAS the Small Business Association of Michigan has filed a motion with the Michigan Public Service Commission challenging the new multi-line phone fee, indicating the small businesses in Michigan are "bearing an unreasonable burden of the total PICC revenues collected by Ameritech." NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners supports the efforts of the Small Business Association of Michigan to block unreasonable and discriminatory Primary Interexchange Carrier Charges from being levied on all SMALL businesses AND RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS with multiple telephone lines. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners urges the Michigan Public Service Commission to take the necessary measures to ensure that Primary Interexchange Carrier Charges do not unfairly impact small business growth and development in Michigan and Oakland County. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners urges that the Michigan TELECOMMUNCATIONS-romi-catitrrm—Act be amended to enable the Michigan Public Service Commission to provide the crucial review and oversight of Primary Interexchange Carrier Charges (PICC) and the ability to require local telephone service providers to present documentation and costs supporting their requests for Primary Interexchange Carrier Charges. GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE VOTE: Motion carried on a roll call vote with Holbert voting no. 4 BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that copies of this adopted resolution be forwarded to Oakland County legislators, the Michigan Public Service Commission and the Oakland County legislative lobbyists. Chairperson, we move the adoption of the foregoing resolution. Chairperson, on behalf of the General Government Committee, I move acceptance of the foregoing report. Vfiga5g1747177 ENERAL Chairperson, on behalf of the General Government Committee, I move acceptance of the foregoing report. GENERAL GOVERNMENT OOMMITTEE REPORT (Misc. #98197) November 19, 1998 GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE, NANCY DINGELDEY, CHAIRPERSON MR #98197 - AGAINST PRIMARY INTEREXCHANGE CARRIER CHARGE (PICC) FOR MULTI-LINE BUSINESS CUSTOMERS TO THE OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: The General Government Committee, having reviewed the above- referenced resolution on November 9, 1998, reports with the recommendation that the resolution be adopted GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE: Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. BY: IN RE: Miscellaneous Resolution # 98 197 BY: Commissioner David L. Moffitt, District #18 RE: Against Primary Interexchange Carrier Charge (PICC) for Multi-Line Business Customers TO: Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: WHEREAS, the Primary Interexchange Carrier Charge (PICC) being initiated in Michigan by local telephone service providers is a flat monthly per line access charge on long-distance service originating and concluding within the state's boundaries; and WHEREAS, according to the Michigan Telecommunications Act, local carriers can mirror federal access charges without Michigan Public Service Commission review and therefore can charge as much as they want for the intrastate PICC, as long as it does not exceed the $2.75 federal interstate PICC; and WHEREAS, in Michigan, Ameritech is levying a $2.40 per line, per month Primary Interexchange Carrier Charge on all business customers. GTE, Michigan's other major local telephone service provider, has implemented a PICC of $2.75 per business line per month; and WHEREAS, the PICC levied on the small businesses in Michigan far exceeds the amount that other states in the Midwest (Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois) pay, resulting in Michigan telephone users providing over half of the PICC revenues that Ameritech will collect from the Midwest region; and WHEREAS, the over 40,000 businesses located in Oakland County are a driving force behind the state's economy and an indispensable source of job creation--employing over 854,000 people. The PICC imposes a regulatory constraint on business development in general and an undue burden on small businesses in particular; and WHEREAS, the Small Business Association of Michigan has filed a motion with the Michigan Public Service Commission challenging the new multi-line phone fee, indicating the small businesses in Michigan are "bearing an unreasonable burden of the total PICC revenues collected by Ameritech." io.ro NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Oakland County Board of Commissioners supports the efforts of the Small Business Association of Michigan to block unreasonable and discriminatory Primary Interexchange Carrier Charges from being levied on all businesses with multiple telephone lines; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Oakland County Board of Commissioners urges the Michigan Public Service Commission to take the necessary measures to ensure that Primary Interexchange Carrier Charges do not unfairly impact small business growth and development in Michigan and Oakland County; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE Oakland County Board of Commissioners urges that the Michigan Communications Act be amended to enable the Michigan Public Service Commission to provide the crucial review and oversight of Primary Interexchange Carrier Charges (MCC) and the ability to require local telephone service providers to present documentation and costs supporting their requests for Primary Interexchange Carrier Charges. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT copies of this adopted resolution be forwarded to Oakland County Legislators, the Michigan Public Service Commission and the Oakland County legislative lobbyists. Mr. Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing Resolution. Commissioner David 1.1-Moffitt District #18 Resolution 498197 August 20, 1998 The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no objections. a M:PSC Support of PICC Fee Challenge Will Help Small Business Owners Contact: Mike Rogers, Director of Communications, 800.362.5461, 517.267.2209, CTINNTcji sbam. on; Oct. 27, 1998 — The Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) says its members are encouraged that the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) at its Oct. 26 meeting in Lansing agreed with an administrative law judge that Ameritech's intrastate Primary Interexchange Carrier Charge (PICC) rates are SBAM - Latest News: Press Releases http://www.sbam.orgilatenews/prsrelhtm#mpsc excessive. The PICC is a flat monthly per line access charge on long-distance service originating and concluding within the state's boundaries. In September, the judge recommended that the PICC be reduced from the current $2.40 per line to 14 cents per line – on a par with the rates in surrounding states such as Ohio (13 cents per tine) and Wisconsin (16 cents per line). Although the MPSC did not order an immediate rollback, it did order Ameritech to submit data so that more appropriate rates can be set. "We are confident that the MPSC, after reviewing Ameritech's data, will set PICC rates that are in line with our competitors across the Midwest," said SBAM President and CEO Gary M. Woodbury. "More favorable rates could save Michigan small business owners millions of dollars a year." SBAM, long distance companies and other groups had challenged the PICC fees before the MPSC. In Monday's ruling, the MPSC also ordered Ameritech to pay all reasonable expenses, including attorney fees, incurred by the intervening parties. ### For more information contact SBAM Vice President Government Relations Barry Cargill: 800-362-5461, 517-482-8788. E-mail bsc 2sbam.org Resolution #98197 November 19, 1998 The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no objections.