19981109Comments.docx

WELDON B. STUTZMAN
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
PO BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO  83720-0074
[phone]
Street Address for Express Mail:
472 W WASHINGTON
BOISE ID  83702-5983
Attorney for the Commission Staff
BEFORE  THE  IDAHO  PUBLIC  UTILITIES  COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF)
ONE EIGHTY COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)CASE  NO.  GNR-T-98-16
FOR A CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC )
CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY TO)
PROVIDE LOCAL EXCHANGE)COMMENTS OF THE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES.)COMMISSION STAFF
)__________________________________________)
COMES  NOW  the Staff of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, by and through its Attorney of record, Weldon B. Stutzman, Deputy Attorney General, in response to Order No. 27778, the Notice of Application and Notice of Modified Procedure in Case No. GNR-T-98-16 issued October 21, 1998, submits the following comments.
BACKGROUND
On October 15, 1998, One Eighty Communications, Inc. (One Eighty) filed an Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) in compliance with Commission Rules of Procedures, IDAPA 31.01.01.111 and Procedural Order No. 26665.  One Eighty is seeking authorization to provide local exchange service pursuant to Title 61 as well as telecommunication services pursuant to Title 62 of Idaho Code to businesses within the
U S WEST (North and South) service areas in Idaho.  Upon approval, One Eighty intends to provide facilities-based intrastate services including local exchange, intraexchange private lines, frame relay, and ISDN services.
DISCUSSION
Staff has reviewed the Application submitted by One Eighty and believes the Company understands the Commission’s rules and requirements.  One Eighty is a new company formed by individuals with backgrounds in the telecommunications industry.  One Eighty is a stand-alone corporation with no ties to any holding company or other corporation.  Because One Eighty’s financial backing is in the form of a line-of-credit at a local bank, the Commission Staff has asked for, and received evidence of, a $100,000 bond.  
Staff believes that One Eighty’s filing meets the requirements of the Commission’s Rules and Procedural Order No. 26665, which set out necessary information to be included with an application for a certificate submitted by a new local exchange provider in Idaho.  Therefore, Staff recommends approval of One Eighty’s Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity.
DATED  at Boise, Idaho, this            day of November 1998
_______________________________
Weldon B. Stutzman
Deputy Attorney General
Technical Staff:  Doug Cooley
ws:DC/umsic/comments\gnrt9816.wsd