DATE:	August 29, 2007
TO:	Office of Commission Clerk (Cole)
FROM:	Division of Competitive Markets & Enforcement (Isler) Office of the General Counsel (McKay)
RE:	Docket No. 070289-TC – Request for cancellation of PATS Certificate No. 7822 by Bruce D. Bahret, effective 4/23/07.
AGENDA:	09/11/07 – Regular Agenda – Proposed Agency Action – Interested Persons May Participate
COMMISSIONERS ASSIGNED:		All Commissioners
PREHEARING OFFICER:		Administrative
CRITICAL DATES:		None
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:		None
FILE NAME AND LOCATION:		S:\PSC\CMP\WP\070289.RCM.DOC

 

 Discussion of Issues

Issue 1: 

 Should the Commission deny Bruce D. Bahret a voluntary cancellation of its Pay Telephone Certificate No. 7822 and cancel the certificate on the Commission’s own motion with an effective date of April 23, 2007?

Recommendation: 

 Yes, the company should be denied a voluntary cancellation as listed on Attachment A.  (Isler, McKay)

Staff Analysis: 

 See attached proposed Order.

Issue 2: 

 Should this docket be closed?

Recommendation: 

 Staff recommends that the Order issued from this recommendation will become final and effective upon issuance of a Consummating Order, unless a person whose substantial interests are affected by the Commission’s decision files a protest that identifies with specificity the issues in dispute, in the form provided by Rule 28-106.201, Florida Administrative Code, within 21 days of the issuance of the Proposed Agency Action Order.  As provided by Section 120.80(13)(b), Florida Statutes, any issues not in dispute should be deemed stipulated.  If the company fails to timely file a protest and to request a Section 120.57, Florida Statutes, hearing, the facts should be deemed admitted and the right to a hearing waived.  If the company pays the Regulatory Assessment Fees prior to the expiration of the Proposed Agency Action Order, then the cancellation of the company’s pay telephone company certificate will be voluntary.  If the company fails to pay the Regulatory Assessment Fees prior to the expiration of the Proposed Agency Action Order, then the company’s pay telephone company certificate should be cancelled administratively, and the collection of the past due Regulatory Assessment Fees should be referred to the Florida Department of Financial Services for further collection efforts.  If the company’s pay telephone company certificate is cancelled in accordance with the Commission’s Order from this recommendation, the company should be required to immediately cease and desist providing pay telephone service in Florida.  This docket should be closed administratively either upon receipt of the payment of the Regulatory Assessment Fees or upon cancellation of the company’s pay telephone company certificate.  (McKay)

Staff Analysis: 

 Staff recommends that the Commission take action as set forth in the foregoing staff recommendation statement.

BEFORE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

 

                                                                       

In re: Request for cancellation of PATS Certificate No. 7822 by Bruce D. Bahret, effective 4/23/07.

DOCKET NO. 070289-TC ORDER NO. ISSUED:

 

The following Commissioners participated in the disposition of this matter:

 

LISA POLAK EDGAR, Chairman

MATTHEW M. CARTER II

KATRINA J. MCMURRIAN

NANCY ARGENZIANO

NATHAN A. SKOP

 

 

NOTICE OF PROPOSED AGENCY ACTION ORDER

CANCELLING PAY TELEPHONE COMPANY CERTIFICATE

ON THE COMMISSION’S OWN MOTION

 

BY THE COMMISSION:

 

            NOTICE is hereby given by the Florida Public Service Commission that the action discussed herein is preliminary in nature and will become final unless a person whose interests are substantially affected files a petition for a formal proceeding, pursuant to Rule 25-22.029, Florida Administrative Code.

 

Bruce D. Bahret currently holds Certificate No. 7822, issued by this Commission on May 30, 2001, authorizing the provision of pay telephone service (PATS).  Pursuant to Section 364.336, Florida Statutes, pay telephone companies must pay a minimum annual Regulatory Assessment Fee (RAF) if the certificate was active during any portion of the calendar year.  Pursuant to Rule 25-4.0161(2), Florida Administrative Code, the form and applicable fees are due to the Florida Public Service Commission by January 30 of the subsequent year.  Pursuant to Section 350.113(4), Florida Statutes, the Regulatory Assessment Fee return forms, for the period of January 1 through December 31, are mailed to entities at least 45 days prior to the date that payment of the fee is due.  In addition, Rule 25-24.514, Florida Administrative Code, provides that a pay telephone company requesting cancellation of its certificate must state its intent and date to pay the current Regulatory Assessment Fee.

            On April 23, 2007, Mr. Bahret e-mailed our staff and requested cancellation of his pay telephone certificate because he was no longer providing payphone service.  Our staff e-mailed Mr. Bahret and explained that in order to be granted a voluntary cancellation, the 2006 late payment charges and the 2007 RAF must be paid.  Mr. Bahret responded that his one and only payphone was installed as a favor to a friend and did not generate revenues to keep the payphone in service or pay the Regulatory Assessment Fees.  Mr. Bahret stated that he hoped there were provisions in the Florida statutes to forgive fees and late payment charges.  Our staff responded that there were not any provisions in rules or statutes that waive Regulatory Assessment Fees.  Our staff explained that if the 2007 fee was not paid, we would have no choice except to recommend denying his request for a voluntary cancellation and instead recommend that the certificate be cancelled on this Commission’s own motion.  On July 13, 2007, this Commission received the company’s check for payment of the 2006 late charges.  As of August 14, 2007, the company has not paid the 2007 fee nor provide a date certain the fee would be paid.

 

For the reasons described above, we deny Bruce D. Bahret’s request for voluntary cancellation of its PATS certificate.  However, we find it appropriate to involuntarily cancel the pay telephone certificate, effective April 23, 2007, on this Commission’s own motion for failure to comply with Rule 25-24.514, Florida Administrative Code, and pursuant to Section 364.336, Florida Statutes.

Since it appears Bruce D. Bahret does not provide service in Florida and has requested cancellation of its certificate, there would be no purpose in requiring the company to pay a penalty.  The cancellation of the PATS certificate, in no way diminishes the entity’s obligation to pay the applicable Regulatory Assessment Fee.  If this Order is not protested, the company’s PATS Certificate No. 7822 shall be cancelled, effective April 23, 2007.  If the company pays the Regulatory Assessment Fee prior to the expiration of the Proposed Agency Action Order, then the cancellation of the company’s pay telephone certificate will be voluntary.  If the company fails to protest the Order or pay the Regulatory Assessment Fee prior to the expiration of the Proposed Agency Action Order, then the company’s pay telephone certificate should be cancelled administratively, and the collection of the Regulatory Assessment Fee should be referred to the Florida Department of Financial Services for further collection efforts.  If the company’s pay telephone certificate is cancelled in accordance with the Commission’s Order from this recommendation, the company should be required to immediately cease and desist providing pay telephone service in Florida.  This docket should be closed administratively either upon receipt of the payment of the Regulatory Assessment Fee or upon cancellation of the company’s pay telephone certificate.  If Bruce D. Bahret’s PATS certificate is cancelled on this Commission’s own motion and it subsequently decides to reapply for a certificate as a pay telephone company, Bruce D. Bahret shall be required to first pay any outstanding fees, including accrued statutory late payment charges.  We are vested with jurisdiction over these matters pursuant to Sections 350.113, 364.336, 364.3375, and 364.285, Florida Statutes.

Based on the foregoing, it is

ORDERED that pursuant to Rule 25-24.514, Florida Administrative Code, Bruce D. Bahret’s PATS Certificate No. 7822 is hereby cancelled effective April 23, 2007, on this Commission’s own motion for failure to pay the 2007 Regulatory Assessment Fee, pursuant to Section 364.336, Florida Statutes, and Rule 25-4.0161, Florida Administrative Code.  It is further

ORDERED that the cancellation of the certificate in no way diminishes Bruce D. Bahret’s obligation to pay the applicable Regulatory Assessment Fee.  If the company’s PATS certificate is cancelled and the company subsequently decides to reapply for a certificate as a pay telephone company, that company shall be required to first pay any outstanding fee, including accrued statutory late payment charges.  It is further

ORDERED that if Bruce D. Bahret pays the Regulatory Assessment Fee prior to the expiration of the Proposed Agency Action Order, the cancellation of the certificate shall be deemed voluntary.  It is further

ORDERED that if Bruce D. Bahret does not pay the Regulatory Assessment Fee prior to the expiration of the Proposed Agency Action Order, the collection of the Regulatory Assessment Fee shall be referred to the Florida Department of Financial Services for further collection efforts.  It is further

ORDERED that if Bruce D. Bahret’s certificate is cancelled in accordance with this Order, Bruce D. Bahret shall immediately cease and desist providing pay telephone service in Florida.  It is further

ORDERED that the provisions of this Order, issued as proposed agency action, shall become final and effective upon the issuance of a Consummating Order unless an appropriate petition, in the form provided by Rule 28-106.201, Florida Administrative Code, is received by the Office of Commission Clerk, 2540 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0850, by the close of business on the date set forth in the "Notice of Further Proceedings" attached hereto.  It is further

ORDERED that in the event this Order becomes final, this docket shall be closed upon receipt of the Regulatory Assessment Fee, or upon cancellation of the PATS certificate.

            By ORDER of the Florida Public Service Commission this            day of                               ,             .

 

 

 

 

 

	ANN COLE Commission Clerk

( S E A L )

 

VM

 

 

 

NOTICE OF FURTHER PROCEEDINGS OR JUDICIAL REVIEW

 

            The Florida Public Service Commission is required by Section 120.569(1), Florida Statutes, to notify parties of any administrative hearing that is available under Section 120.57, Florida Statutes, as well as the procedures and time limits that apply.  This notice should not be construed to mean all requests for an administrative hearing will be granted or result in the relief sought.

 

            Mediation may be available on a case-by-case basis.  If mediation is conducted, it does not affect a substantially interested person's right to a hearing.

 

            The action proposed herein is preliminary in nature. Any person whose substantial interests are affected by the action proposed by this order may file a petition for a formal proceeding, in the form provided by Rule 28-106.201, Florida Administrative Code.  This petition must be received by the Office of Commission Clerk, 2540 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee , Florida 32399-0850, by the close of business on                               .

 

             In the absence of such a petition, this order shall become final and effective upon the issuance of a Consummating Order.

 

            Any objection or protest filed in this/these docket(s) before the issuance date of this order is considered abandoned unless it satisfies the foregoing conditions and is renewed within the specified protest period.