20021105Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER HANSEN
JEAN JEWELL
RANDY LOBB
DON HOWELL
JOE CUSICK
WAYNE HART
CAROLEE HALL
BIRDELLE BROWN
BEVERLY BARKER
RON LAW
TONYA CLARK
WORKING FILE
FROM:DOUG COOLEY
DATE:NOVEMBER 5,2002
RE:REPLY COMMENT PERIOD IN THE MATTER OF DECLARATORY
RULING;VIRTUAL NXX CALLING.CASE NO.GNR-T-02-16.
BACKGROUND
On August 27,2002,several small incumbent local exchange companies filed a petition
seeking a declaratory order.Specifically,the Petitioners urged the Commission to declare that
the practice of "virtual"calling by means of a virtual prefix (NXX)or other virtual-like services
is not in the public interest and should be prohibited in Idaho.Virtual NXX calling converts
what would otherwise be a long-distancetoll call to a toll-free call by the assignment of a
telephoneprefix that makes it appear that the call is a local call.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
The Commission issued a Notice of Modified Procedure and established a 28-day
comment period in Order No.29125 filed October 4,2002.Comments were filed by Staff,
Qwest Corporation,Verizon Northwest,Western Wireless Corporation,Sprint Communications,
WorldCom,Time Warner Telecom of Idaho,Level 3 Communications,and AT&T
Communications.These comments cover a wide range of divergent views.Based on these
initial comments,Staff believes the record would be enhanced by allowing the parties to file
DECISION MEMORANDUM l NOVEMBER 5,2002
reply comments.Staff contacted the interested parties and found general support of having reply
comments.Therefore,Staff recommends that the Commission establish a 28-day reply comment
period for this case.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to establish a 28-day replycomment period for this case?
D6ug Cool
i:udmemos/virtual nxx mem
DECISION MEMORANDUM 2 NOVEMBER 5,2002