Idaho PUC Denies Lumen's Broadband Tax Credit

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission denied an application from Lumen’s CenturyLink asking for equipment installed in 2022 to be designated as qualified broadband equipment (case QWE-T-23-05). Taxpayers can receive an Idaho income tax credit for installing qualified broadband equipment during a calendar year, but the PUC must confirm it can transmit signals with at least 0.2 Mbps download and 0.125 Mbps upload speeds. CenturyLink claimed it spent $23.3 million installing equipment with at least 0.5 Mbps/0.25 Mbps. “The commission denied CenturyLink’s application after reviewing it and determining it did not properly describe the broadband equipment in question,” the PUC said. “The company also did not respond to audit requests from commission staff for information on the equipment that would have included the brand, model number and manufacturer.” The carrier declined to comment on the PUC order.