19990423Order No 28028 - Settlement Conference.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATIONS OF IDAHO TELEPHONE ASSOCIATION., PROJECT MUTUAL TELEPHONE COOPERATIVE, CENTURYTEL OF THE GEM STATE, INC. AND CENTURYTEL OF IDAHO, INC. FOR APPROVAL OF THEIR RESPECTIVE PLANS TO IMPLEMENT INTRASTATE, INTRALATA DIALING PARITY. )
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) CASE NOS. GNR-T-99-4
PRJ-T-99-1
CGS-T-99-1
CEN-T-99-1

NOTICE OF APPLICATIONS

NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE

NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE

ORDER NO.  28028 )

NOTICE OF APPLICATIONS
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on April 22, 1999, Project Mutual Telephone Cooperative, CenturyTel of the Gem State, Inc., CenturyTel of Idaho, Inc. and the Idaho Telephone Association, on behalf of certain of its members, each filed an Application for approval of their respective intrastate, intraLATA toll dialing parity plans. The Idaho Telephone Association filed on behalf of Custer Telephone Cooperative, Farmers Mutual Telephone Co., Filer Mutual Telephone Co., Mud Lake Telephone Co., Albion Telephone Co., Cambridge Telephone Co., Council Telephone Company, Inc., CTC Communications, Inc., Direct Communications Lakeside, Inc., Direct Communications Rockland, Inc., Midvale Telephone Exchange, Oregon-Idaho Utilities, Inc., Rural Telephone Co., Sawtooth Telephone Co., Silver Star Telephone Co., Columbine Telephone Company, Inc. d.b.a. Teton Telecom Communications (an affiliate of Silver Star Telephone Company), and Westel, Inc.
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. Currently, intrastate, intraLATA toll traffic for the customers of each of these companies is carried by U S WEST Communications, unless a customer dials around to reach a different toll carrier.
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission is required to review toll dialing parity implementation plans on a very concise schedule. By order dated March 23, 1999, in FCC Docket No. 96-98, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires all Local Exchange Carriers (LECs) to file their dialing parity plans with state commissions by April 22, 1999. The FCC further requires state commissions to complete their reviews of those plans and issue orders no later than June 22, 1999, requiring the LECs implement those dialing parity 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 these matters 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 any of these Applications 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 these Applications shall be mailed to the Commission and the Applicants at their respective addresses reflected below:

COMMISSION SECRETARY CONLEY WARD
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION GIVENS PURSLEY LLP
PO BOX 83720 PO BOX 2720
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074 BOISE, ID 83701

Street Address for Express Mail: Attorney for the Idaho
Telephone Association and its members
WASHINGTON ST
BOISE, IDAHO 83702-5983
PAMELA DONOVAN
CENTURYTEL SERVICE GROUP, INC.
PO BOX 9901
VANCOUVER, WA 98668-8701

Street Address: 805 BROADWAY
VANCOUVER, WA 98660-3277

Representing CenturyTel of the Gem State
CenturyTel of Idaho

CHARLIE CREASON
507 G STREET
RUPERT, IDAHO 83350

Representing Project Mutual Cooperative
Assn.

These 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 these matters on their merits and enter its Orders 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.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Applications together with supporting workpapers, testimonies and exhibits, have been filed with the Commission and are available for public inspection during regular business hours at the Commission offices.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this case will be held pursuant to the Commission's jurisdiction under Title 61 of the Idaho Code and that the Commission may enter any final Order consistent with its authority under Title 61.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this matter will be conducted pursuant to the Commission’s Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.000 et seq.
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. For the purposes of the settlement conference, these cases will be consolidated.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that, pursuant to Rule 273 of the Commission’s Rules of Procedure, 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 Applications of Project Mutual Telephone Cooperative, CenturyTel of the Gem State, Inc., CenturyTel of Idaho, Inc. and the Idaho Telephone Association, on behalf of certain of its members, for approval of their respective dialing parity plans be processed by Modified Procedure, Commission Rules of Procedure 201-204; IDAPA 31.01.01.201-204.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a settlement conference will 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 March 2003.

DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

PAUL KJELLANDER, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary

O:gnrt994_cc.doc

NOTICE OF APPLICATIONS
NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 28028 1

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
April 23, 1999