Virginia Law

A. An application for a rate increase filed pursuant to this chapter by a small telephone company having more than $3 million in gross annual operating revenue or that is a subsidiary of a telecommunications company, which means a corporation that owns, manages, or controls any plant or equipment for the conveyance of voice or data messages, either directly or indirectly to or for the public, shall include:

1. The name and post office address of the applicant and the name and post office address of its counsel (if any);

2. A clear description of the proposed tariff changes, and a narrative explaining why an increase in rates is needed, as well as the overall percentage increase in rates proposed;

3. All direct testimony by which the applicant expects to support the rate increase. In lieu of prefiling direct testimony, the applicant may submit an affidavit which certifies that the information in the application is correct and that the applicant adopts the information contained in the schedules as its evidence in support of the application.

4. Exhibits consisting of Schedules 1 through 16 shown in the Appendix to this chapter shall be submitted with the applicant's direct testimony or affidavit adopting the information contained in the schedules.

5. Exhibits consisting of additional schedules may be submitted with the applicant's direct testimony. Such schedules shall be identified as Schedule 17 et seq.

B. All applications shall be filed in an original and 15 copies with the exception of Schedule 12. Two copies of Schedule 12 shall be filed directly with the commission's Division of Utility Accounting and Finance. Additional copies of Schedule 12 shall be made available to parties upon request. An application shall not be deemed filed with the commission for the purposes of §§ 56-238 and 56-240 of the Code of Virginia unless all information required is filed in conformity with this chapter and accompanying schedules.

C. The selection of a test period is up to the applicant. However, the use of overlapping test periods shall not be permitted.

D. 1. The applicant shall serve a copy of the information required in subdivisions A 1 and A 2 of this section upon the Commonwealth's Attorney and Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of each county (or equivalent officials in counties having alternate forms of government) in this Commonwealth affected by the proposed rate increase and upon the mayor or manager and the attorney of every city and town (or on equivalent officials in towns and cities having alternate forms of government) in this Commonwealth affected by the proposed rate increase.

2. The applicant shall also serve each such official with a statement that a copy of the complete application may be obtained at no cost by making a request either orally or in writing to a specified officer of the applicant.

3. The applicant shall serve a copy of its complete application upon the Division of Consumer Counsel, Office of the Attorney General.

4. All service specified by this section shall be made either by (i) personal delivery, or (ii) by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the customary place of business or the residence of the person served.