19970729Order No 27066.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT APPLICATION OF GTE NORTHWEST INCORPORATED AND AT&T WIRELESS SERVICES, INC. FOR APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT FOR INTERCONNECTION PURSUANT TO 47 U.S.C.  252(e).
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CASE NO. GTE-T977

ORDER NO. 27066

On June 5, 1997, GTE Northwest Incorporated and AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. filed a Joint Application for approval of a wireless interconnection agreement that provides for the parties to interconnect their facilities and interchange traffic. The agreement was reached through voluntary negotiations and was submitted for approval pursuant to 47 U.S.C.  252(e), a provision of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. On June 25, 1997, the Commission issued a Notice of Application and Notice of Modified Procedure to process the Application. The comment period established by the Notice terminated on July 16, 1997. The only comments filed were those of the Commission Staff, which recommended approval of the agreement.
Under the terms of the Telecommunications Act, interconnection agreements must be submitted to the Commission for approval. The Commission may reject an agreement adopted by negotiation only if it finds that the agreement discriminates against a telecommunications carrier not a party to the agreement or implementation of the agreement is not consistent with the public interest, convenience and necessity. 47 U.S.C. 252(2). Regarding interconnection agreements for the transport and termination of traffic, Subsection 252(d) provides the standards for the terms and conditions of mutual and reciprocal compensation.
Staff has reviewed the final agreement between the parties to determine that it is consistent with the requirements of the Telecommunications Act and recommends approval of the agreement. Based on the recommendation of the Staff, we find that the final agreement between GTE and AT&T Wireless should be approved.

O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Wireless Interconnection Agreement between GTE Northwest Incorporated and At&T Wireless Services, Inc. is approved. Terms of the agreement that are not already in effect shall be effective as of the date of this Order.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER. Any person interested in this Order (or in issues finally decided by this Order) or in interlocutory Orders previously issued in this Case No. GTE-T-977 may petition for reconsideration within twenty-one (21) days of the service date of this Order with regard to any matter decided in this Order or in interlocutory Orders previously issued in Case No. GTE-T-977. 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 July 1997.

DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT

RALPH NELSON, COMMISSIONER

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary

Vld\O:GTE-T-97-7.ws2

ORDER NO. 27066 -1-

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
July 29, 1997