PUC to conduct hearing on Time Warner application

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission will conduct a hearing on June 10 on a petition by Time Warner Cable Information Services for a certificate to provide local and long-distance telecommunication services in Idaho.

In late February, the commission denied Time Warner's petition, but the company has petitioned for reconsideration. Due to the "relative complexity" of the issues involved, the commission said it "must conduct a more thorough review" of the application.

Current local exchange telecommunications providers (such as Verizon and Qwest) and competitors that provide telecommunications services using the facilities of those providers must obtain a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to provide residential exchange service to end users. Time Warner seeks to offer retail and wholesale interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services to commercial customers in Idaho using primarily the facilities owned by its cable affiliate. The company's application says it plans to enter into interconnection agreements with Verizon and Qwest.

Commission staff said the certificate should be denied because the company is a wholesale provider that offers services to other telecommunications companies, not to the public or end users. Staff maintains Time Warner does not need a certificate to provide competitive wholesale service in Idaho.

Time Warner asserts that existing providers won't interconnect with Time Warner without a certificate. Further, Time Warner alleges that without a certificate it won't be assigned telephone numbers and connections with E-911 emergency service. Time Warner says the commission is discouraging competition if it does not grant the certificate.

The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in the commission hearing room, 472 W. Washington St. in Boise. Documents related to this case, including Time Warner's application and supporting testimony as well as staff testimony, are available on the commission's website at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on the "File Room" and then on "Telecommunications Cases" and scroll down to Case No. TIM-T-08-01.

NFIB offers free webinars

The National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's leading small business association, has released its June schedule of educational webinars for small business owners.

All webinars are free and open to the public.

This month's line-up includes:

• "Harassment Prevention for Small Business Owners: What You Don't Know or Aren't Doing Can Hurt You," June 16 at 9 a.m. Pacific Time. James Howe and Robin Rapino of Vubiz will outline the steps employers should take to prevent harassment in the workplace. The presenters will discuss the various types of discrimination prohibited by the laws enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. They also will cover policy guidance, best practices and review important questions and answers for employers about employer liability for harassment.

• "Operating Your Business at Its Full Potential by Eliminating Your Blind Spots," June 23 at 9 a.m. PT. David Riveness, author of "The Secret Life of the Corporate Jester: A Fresh Perspective on Organizational Leadership, Culture and Behavior," will discuss the concept of a corporate jester and how it's used by organizations such as Pfizer, JetBlue Airways and the BBC to increase results, enhance collaboration and sustain a culture of effective decision making. He will illustrate how the concept can be applied to small business leadership so business owners can achieve similar impact.

• "How to Get Customers Through Business Partnerships," June 30 at 9 a.m. PT. Ron Kunitzky, founder of Geyser Marketing, will discuss how to find the right marketing partners to drive customer acquisition and distribution, as well as leverage partner marketing programs to increase the social and commercial capital of a brand. This session will feature case studies and tools for prospecting, pitching and negotiating your marketing partnerships. Kunitsky will also provide valuable insight on partner marketing models that work.

For more information about the series or to register, go to www.NFIB.com/webinars.

If you have a new, relocated or expanded business, or announcement of events, promotions or awards, The Press wants to let our readers know. The service is free and items run Tuesday through Saturday. To get the word on the street on your movers and shakers, call city editor Bill Buley at 664-8176 Ext. 2016 or e-mail bbuley@cdapress.com.