19970401Intervention Order No 26848.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF A RURAL TELEPHONE COMPANY EXEMPTION FOR GTE NORTHWEST INCORPORATED=S IDAHO OPERATIONS

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CASE NO. GTET974

ORDER NO. 26848
U S WEST Communications, Inc. petitioned to intervene in this case on March 19, 1997, after the deadline for petitioning to intervene of March 3, 1997, pursuant to Rules of Procedure 71 through 75 of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, IDAPA 31.01.01.071-75.

FINDINGS OF FACT
We find that no party timely opposed this Petition to Intervene.
We further find that based on the pleadings and other documents filed in this case, intervention by this party would serve the purposes of intervention as described by Rule 74 of the Rules of Procedure and should be granted. We also find that granting this late intervention will not prejudice any party and that late intervention should be granted.

O R D E R
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the Petition to Intervene filed by U S WEST Communications, Inc. is hereby granted.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that all parties in this proceeding serve all papers hereafter filed in this matter on all parties of record. This Intervenor is represented by the following for purposes of service:

Kathy Ford Mary S. Hobson
U S WEST Communications, Inc. ELAM & BURKE, P.A.
1801 California St., #5100 PO Box 1539
Denver, CO 80202 Boise, ID 83701

DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho, this day of April 1997.

RALPH NELSON, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

DENNIS S. HANSEN, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

MYRNA J. WALTERS
COMMISSION SECRETARY

bls/O-gtet974.in5

ORDER NO. 26848 -1-

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
April 1, 1997