ACT96MTG.docx

March 15, 1996
To:Interested Persons on the Commission’s Telecommunications Service Lists
RE:Open Meeting and Informal Workshop on the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996
Dear Interested Person:
As you may know, the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 was recently enacted.  The Commission wants to discuss its role and responsibilities under the Act.  Accordingly, the Commission has scheduled an open meeting to conduct an informal workshop at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, March 28, 1996 in the Commission’s hearing room located at 472 W. Washington  Street, Boise, Idaho 83702 [phone].
The purpose of the open meeting is to provide an opportunity for interested persons to discuss  issues surrounding the Telecommunications Act.  More specifically, the Commission is interested in participants’ views concerning provisions of the Telecommunications Act that affect the telecommunications industry within Idaho.  The Commission invites interested persons to address specific tasks that the Commission should undertake to implement the Telecom­mu­ni­ca­tions Act.  Participants may also address the priority or scheduling of those tasks.
The Telecommunications Act contemplates that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will initiate approximately 80 rulemakings to implement various provisions of the Act.  A copy of the FCC’s proposed schedule for implementing the rulemakings will be available at the open meeting.
To facilitate presentations, the Commission proposes the agenda printed on the reverse of this letter.  Individuals desiring to present oral comments to the Commission (other than those identified), should notify the Commission Secretary at [phone], or sign up before the start of the meeting.  For those individuals unable to attend the open meeting, you may submit written comments to the Commission.
If you have any questions that concern this matter, please contact me at [phone].
Sincerely yours,
Donald L.  Howell, II
Deputy Attorney General
DH/cm/L:parties.dh
9:30 Welcome and Introductions
9:45Views by Incumbent LECs on Local Competition and Response to Federal Legislation
Dave Sather –U S WEST, Conley Ward–Idaho Tele. Assoc., Richard Potter –GTE, Aloa Stevens –Citizens
10:30Views by Potential New Entrants to Local Competition and Response to Federal Legislation
Cathy Brightwell–AT&T, Karla Grave Pratt – TCI, Joe Miller–MCI,             –CAP
11:15Views by Staff and Others (sign-up)
11:45Lunch—on your own
1:00Open Discussion of Issues
– Rural Exemptions and rural issues
– Interconnection, Resale, Number Portability, Dialing Parity
– Procedures to Review Interconnection and Resale Agreements
– Local Service Entry Requirements (certification, service standards, service area            requirements)
– Idaho USF changes
– BOC entry into long-distance
– Cases/Dockets to be undertaken
– Title 61/62 Interface
3:30Conclusion