19980921Decision Memo.doc

DECISION MEMORANDUM

TO: COMMISSIONER HANSEN
COMMISSIONER NELSON
COMMISSIONER SMITH
MYRNA WALTERS
TONYA CLARK
DON HOWELL
STEPHANIE MILLER
RITA SCOTT
DAVE SCHUNKE
WAYNE HART
BIRDELLE BROWN
DAVID SCOTT
WORKING FILE

FROM: WELDON STUTZMAN

DATE: September 21, 1998

RE: CASE NO. FTL-T-98-1/USW-T-98-10
APPLICATION BY FIRSTEL, INC. FOR A CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY; JOINT APPLICATION OF FIRSTEL AND U S WEST FOR APPROVAL OF INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT.

On May 27, 1998, FirsTel, Inc. filed an Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to provide basic local telephone service within the state of Idaho. FirsTel intends to resell services to residential and business customers throughout the areas of the state served by U S WEST. On August 27, 1998, the Commission issued a Notice of Application and Notice of Modified Procedure, identifying a comment period that expired on September 17, 1998. Written comments were filed only by the Commission Staff, which recommended approval of the Application as well as approval of the tariffs filed with the Application effective October 1, 1998.

FirsTel and U S WEST also filed a Joint Application for approval of an interconnection agreement by which FirsTel would be able to resell U S WEST services. That Application was assigned Case No. USW-T-98-10. On August 27, 1998, the Commission issued a Notice of Joint Application and Notice of Modified Procedure to process the Application. During the comment period, written comments were filed only by the Commission Staff, which recommended approval of the interconnection agreement.
Staff recommends approval of FirsTels Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, including its initial tariffs, and also recommends approval of the interconnection agreement between U S WEST and FirsTel.
Commission Decision:
Should the Application of FirsTel for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity be approved? Should the Joint Application of FirsTel and U S WEST for approval of their interconnection agreement be approved?

Weldon Stutzman

cm\M:ftlt981.ws2

DECISION MEMORANDUM 1