19960607Order No 26459.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF GTE NORTHWEST INCORPORATED TARIFF ADVICE NO. 96-09 TO ADD RATES, TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR INTRALATA EQUAL ACCESS
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CASE NO. GTET961

ORDER NO. 26459

On May 22, 1996, GTE Northwest Incorporated filed Tariff Advice No. 96-09 (Case No. GTE-T-96-1) to add rates, terms and conditions for intraLATA equal access to be effective June 24, 1996. After reviewing the Application, we make the following Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order:

FINDINGS OF FACT
I
GTE Northwest has submitted a proposed schedule of rates and charges for telephone service to become effective on and after June 24, 1996. The Application is of sufficient importance and complexity to require the Commission's investigation of the reasonableness of the proposed rate.
II
The Commission will be unable to consider the Application in this Case No. GTE-T-96-1 before June 24, 1996, because of the complexity of the evidence presented by the Application and because of the previously scheduled hearings and other demands on the Commission's time.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
I
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has jurisdiction over GTE Northwest and its Application by virtue of Title 61, Idaho Code and the Rules of Procedure of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, IDAPA 31.01.0001 et. seq.

II
The Commission has authority under Idaho Code  61-622 to suspend the rates that are subject of the Application for a period of thirty (30) days plus five (5) months from the proposed effective date of June 24, 1996.
III
It is necessary to suspend the rate in this Application for a period of thirty (30) days plus five (5) months from the effective date of June 24, 1996, to allow the Commission to hear the evidence to be presented in this matter and to consider and determine the issues presented in this Application.

O R D E R
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the proposed schedule of rates and charges for telephone service identified in Tariff Advice No. 96-09, Case No. GTE-T-96-1 should be, and hereby is, suspended for a period of thirty (30) days plus five (5) months from June 24, 1996, or until such time as the Commission may issue an Order accepting or rejecting or modifying the Application in this matter.

DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho, this day of June 1996.

RALPH NELSON, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

DENNIS S. HANSEN, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

MYRNA J. WALTERS
COMMISSION SECRETARY

bls/O-gtet961.ws

ORDER NO. 26459 -1-

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
June 7, 1996