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PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING

Tuesday, April 15, 1997; 10:00 A.M.
Budget Host Inn, Conference Room
640 North Euclid, Pierre, South Dakota

NOTE: If you wish to join this meeting by conference call, please contact the Commission at 605-773- 3201 by 5:00 p.m., Monday, April 14, 1997.

NOTE: Notice is further given to persons with disabilities that this Commission meeting is being held in a physically accessible place. If you have special needs, please notify the Commission and we will make all necessary arrangements.

ADDENDUM TO THE AGENDA OF THE COMMISSION MEETING

Item number 2 under the heading "Natural Gas" found in the April 15, 1997, Agenda of the Commission Meeting is incorrectly labeled NG96-017. The correct docket number is NG96-016.

1. TC97-028 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPLAINT FILED BY NETWAY ADVERTISING, WHITE RIVER, SOUTH DAKOTA, AGAINST GOLDEN WEST TELECOMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE, INC. REGARDING INTERNET ACCESS CHARGES. (Consumer Representative: Leni Healy. Staff Attorney: Karen Cremer.)

On March 25, 1997, the Commission received a complaint from Netway Advertising (Complainant) located in White River, South Dakota, against Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. (Respondent). According to the complaint: "Netway Advertising is an Internet Advertising Agency and an Internet Provider in White River, SD. We have a 56K line row running from our own T1 in Sioux Falls. We installed our 56K line in November of 95. It ran from Uunet in Chicago. Then in December we switched it to our own T1 in Sioux Falls. Our installation fee in November of 95 from Golden West was 50.00. Our installation fee to switch to our own T1 in Sioux Falls in December was $600.00. Amazing since we are in competition with Golden West how our installation charges increased. The line was physically placed in November of 95. All they did in December of 96 was make a switch at their terminal. Also, our per monthly line fee up until December of 96 was 0.00. Now, in January they sent us a bill for $197.55 for our 56K line. U S WEST charges $1.15 per mile for a 56K line. Golden West charges $2.15 per mile. How is it that a non-profit federally financed cooperative can make more money th WEST. These charges are outrageous and should be outlawed. I want these fees to stop....I want Golden West to understand that they can't try to put their competition out of business. Our line fees are completely out of line with other phone companies and they need to stop. I want my $600.00 installation fee returned and our line fees lowered."

TODAY, does the Commission find probable cause of an unlawful or unreasonable act, rate, practice or omission to go forward with this complaint and serve it upon Respondent?

______________________________
William Bullard, Jr.,
Executive Director
Friday, April 11, 1997