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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20000406Comments.docJEFF H. CAPELL DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION PO BOX 83720 BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074 (208) 334-0357 IDAHO BAR NO. 5764 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 FOR ADOPTION OF THE ARBITRATED INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN GTE NORTHWEST INCORPORATED AND NEXTLINK IDAHO, INC. BY AVISTA COMMUNICATIONS OF IDAHO, INC. PURSUANT TO 47 U.S.C.  252(i). ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) CASE NO. GTE-T-00-05 COMMENTS OF THE COMMISSION STAFF COMES NOW the Staff of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, by and through its Attorney of record, Jeff H. Capell, Deputy Attorney General, and in response to the Notice of Petition for Approval of Interconnection Agreement and Notice of Modified Procedure issued in Order No. 28305 on March 16, 2000, submits the following comments. On March 6, 2000, GTE Northwest Incorporated (GTE) filed an Application for adoption of the arbitrated Interconnection Agreement between GTE Northwest, Incorporated and Nextlink Idaho, Inc. by Avista Communications of Idaho, Inc.(Avista). The adoption provides terms for the parties to interconnect their facilities, enables Avista to resell GTE’s services and provides Avista access to GTE’s unbundled network elements. The Companies indicated the Agreement was reached through voluntary negotiations without resort to mediation or arbitration, and claimed the Agreement is not discriminatory against any other company, and is consistent with the public interest, convenience and necessity. The Company requested the Commission approve the Agreement without a hearing or intervention by other parties. The Commission approved the terms and conditions of the underlying Agreement in Order No. 28269 issued on January 26, 2000. Staff concurs with the Company's claim that the adoption of this Agreement by Avista is consistent with the pro-competitive policies of the Commission, the Idaho Legislature, and the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and therefore is consistent with the public interest. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the Commission approve the adoption of the GTE-Nextlink Interconnection Agreement by Avista as filed. DATED at Boise, Idaho, this 6th day of April, 2000. ____________________________________ Jeff H. Capell Deputy Attorney General Technical Staff: Wayne Hart COMMENTS OF THE COMMISSION STAFF 1 APRIL 6, 2000