28134.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF NEXTLINK IDAHO, INC. FOR A CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY TO PROVIDE LOCAL EXCHANGE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES.
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ORDER NO. 28134

On January 14, 1999, an Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity was filed by NextLink Idaho, Inc. to provide local exchange, interexchange and intrastate switched and dedicated access services within the state of Idaho. NextLink is a Washington corporation with its principal business address in Bellevue. Its Application states that it initially plans to offer local exchange services to both business and residential customers, with a primary focus on business customers. The Company proposes to initially provide local exchange service in the Boise, Idaho Falls and Coeur d’Alene areas.
On July 20, 1999, the Commission issued a Notice of Application and Notice of Modified Procedure. During the period for the filing of written comments, the Commission Staff filed comments, recommending approval of NextLink’s Application. Written comments were also filed jointly by TDS Telecom and Century Telephone Company. Those companies’ comments asked the Commission to take into account “certain restrictions [that] apply to potential competitors in Idaho’s rural exchanges.”

COMMISSION FINDINGS
Based on our review of the record, including the filed written comments and Staff’s recommendation, we find that the Application of NextLink Idaho, Inc., complies with Procedural Order No. 26665 and the Commission’s Rules to obtain a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. The Commission thus finds that the Application of NextLink Idaho, Inc. for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to provide local exchange telecommunication services within Idaho should be approved. We also find that any rural exemptions to competitive requirements that may apply to TDS and Century, as well as other rural telephone companies, will provide adequate protection to those companies without specific action by the Commission at this time.

O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, based on the record in this case that the Application of NextLink Idaho, Inc. for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to provide local exchange telecommunication services within the state is approved.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER. Any person interested in this Order may petition for reconsideration within twenty-one (21) days of the service date of this Order. Within seven (7) days after any person has petitioned for reconsideration, any other person may cross-petition for reconsideration. See Idaho Code § 61626.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this
day of August 1999.

DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

PAUL KJELLANDER, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary

vld/O:GNRT991_ws2

ORDER NO. 28134 1

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
September 1, 1999