19990423Settlement Conference - Order No 28029.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF AT&T COMMUNICATIONS OF THE MOUNTAIN STATES, INC. FOR APPROVAL OF ITS PLAN TO IMPLEMENT INTRASTATE, INTRALATA DIALING PARITY.
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) CASE NO. ATT-T-99-1

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF TOLL DIALING PARITY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE

NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE

ORDER NO.  28029

NOTICE OF APPLICATION
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFED that on April 22, 1999, AT&T Communications of the Mountain States, Inc. (AT&T) filed an Application for approval of an intrastate, intraLATA toll dialing parity plan. AT&T’s plan is a Digital Link Service Dialing Parity Implementation Plan and is proposed for providing intraLATA toll dialing parity within Idaho for customers subscribing to AT&T Digital Link Service.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that toll dialing parity, also referred to as 1 plus equal access or carrier presubscription, allows a customer to pre-select a carrier for intrastate, intraLATA toll calls and then access his chosen carrier simply by dialing 1 plus the telephone number. Without dialing parity, a customer wishing to use a specific toll carrier may be required to dial a series of numbers before dialing the telephone number.

NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission is required to consider AT&T’s toll dialing parity implementation plan on a very concise schedule. An order of the Federal Communications Commission issued March 23, 1999 in FCC Docket No. 96-98 requires Local Exchange Carriers (LECs) to file their dialing parity plans with state commissions by April 22, 1999 and allows the state commissions only until June 22, 1999 to consider and approve the filed plans. Accordingly, the Commission has determined to proceed in this matter by Modified Procedure. See IDAPA 31.01.01.201-04.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has determined that the public interest may not require a formal hearing in this matter and will proceed under Modified Procedure pursuant to Rules 201 through 204 of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission’s Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.201 through -.204.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that any person desiring to state a position on this Application may file a written comment in support or opposition with the Commission within twenty-five (25) days from the date of this Notice. The comment must contain a statement of reasons supporting the comment. Persons desiring a hearing must specifically request a hearing in their written comments. Written comments concerning this application shall be mailed to the Commission and the Applicant at the addresses reflected below:
COMMISSION SECRETARY
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
PO BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074
Street Address for Express Mail:
472 W WASHINGTON ST
BOISE, ID 83702-5983 REBECCA B. DeCOOK
AT&T COMMUNICATIONS OF THE
MOUNTAIN STATES, INC.
1875 LAWRENCE ST., STE 1575
DENVER, CO 80202

Attorney for AT&T
All comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this document.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no written comments are received within the time limit set, the Commission will consider this matter on its merits and enter its Order without a formal hearing. If written comments are received within the time limit set, the Commission will consider them and, in its discretion, may set the same for formal hearing.

NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has determined to schedule a settlement conference to provide the parties an opportunity to resolve issues, if any, identified in filed written comments. The settlement conference will convene FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1999, AT 11:00 A.M. IN THE COMMISSION’S HEARING ROOM, 472 WEST WASHINGTON, BOISE, IDAHO.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that, pursuant to Commission Rule of Procedure 273, the Commission may participate in the settlement conference to “indicate acceptable ranges of settlement, preclude certain issues from settlement, or otherwise inform the parties of . . .their views on settlement in aid of securing a just, speedy and economical determination of the issues presented to the Commission.” IDAPA 31.01.01.273.

O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, upon review of the filings in this case and the determination of the Commission, that the Application of AT&T Communications for approval of its intraLATA toll dialing parity implementation plan be processed by Modified Procedure pursuant to Commission Rules of Procedure 201-204. IDAPA 31.01.01.201-04.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a settlement conference shall convene Friday, May 28, 1999 at 11:00 a.m. in the Commission’s Hearing Room, 472 West Washington, Boise, Idaho, for the purpose of resolving any issues identified by the parties in filed written comments.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, in the event discovery requests are served in this case on any party, that the response time shall be shortened to fourteen (14) days in order to complete the discovery within the time permitted in this expedited schedule. All discovery must be completed prior to the settlement conference.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this day of April 1999.

DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

PAUL KJELLANDER, COMMISSIONER

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary

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NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR
APPROVAL OF TOLL DIALING
PARITY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO.  28029 1

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
April 23, 1999