20021213Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER HANSENLCEOGMAMLISIAOFNFSTAFF NEWC A SEFROM:JEAN JEWELL
DATE:DECEMBER 13,2002
RE:REDUCING THE NUMBER OF COPIES AND THE TYPE OF COPY THATMUSTACCOMPANYAPPLICATIONSFORINTERCONNECTIONAGREEMENTSANDAMENDMENTSTOINTERCONNECTIONAGREEMENTS.CASE NO.GNR-T-02-22.
Since enactmentof the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996,the Commission has approvedmorethan100interconnectionagreementspursuanttoSection252oftheAct.Often the applications forinterconnectionagreementsandthesubsequentamendmentstotheagreementsarevoluminous.Inparticular,applications to interconnection agreements often include a complete copy of the original
agreement.It is not unusual for agreements to be amendedseveraltimes.
The Commission's procedural Rule 61 requiresparties to file an original and seven (7)copies of all utilitypleadings.We can increase efficiency,save paperand file storage space,and cut costs for the filers byreducingthenumberofcopiesrequiredforfilinginterconnectionagreementsandamendmentstointerconnectionagreements.Moreover,Staff believes that an electronic copy is sufficient.
Telecom staff and legal staff concur that one original and one electronic copy of applications forinterconnectionagreementsandamendmentstotheinterconnectionagreementswillmeettheirneeds.Staff proposes that an electronic copy be stored on the H drive under the assigned case number for easy
access by all staff members.We have consulted the attorney who represents Qwest in interconnectionagreementsandsheagreesthatthereductioninpaperworkwouldbeworthwhile.She also agreed thatsubmittingacompleteelectroniccopywillnotbeaproblem.If any telecommunications companies areunabletofileanelectroniccopy,we can scan their original paper copy.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission agree that it is reasonableto reducethe number of copies required for filinginterconnectionagreementsandamendmentstointerconnectionagreements?Does the Commission findthatanelectronicdocumentissufficientforthecopy?Pursuant to Rules 11 and 13,does the CommissionauthorizetheCommissionSecretarytouseherdiscretiontoallowcompaniestofileapaperoriginaland
an electronic copy in lieu of an original and all of the seven (7)paper copies of interconnectionagreementsandamendmentstointerconnectionagreements?
Jea ewell
Co 'ssion Secretary
DECISION MEMORANDUM 1 12/13/2002