HomeMy WebLinkAbout971212.docxDECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER HANSEN
COMMISSIONER NELSON
COMMISSIONER SMITH
MYRNA WALTERS
TONYA CLARK
DON HOWELL
STEPHANIE MILLER
DAVE SCHUNKE
JOE CUSICK
WAYNE HART
DAVID SCOTT
WORKING FILE
FROM:WELDON STUTZMAN
DATE:December 12, 1997
RE:CASE NO. GTE-T-97-11
JOINT APPLICATION OF GTE MACRO COMMUNICATIONS AND GTE NORTHWEST FOR APPROVAL OF INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT
On September 22, 1997, GTE Macro Communications Corporation (Mobilenet) and GTE Northwest, Inc. (GTE) filed a Joint Application for approval of an interconnection agreement reached through voluntary negotiation. The agreement is submitted for approval pursuant to Section 252(e) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. On October 17, 1997, the Commission issued a Notice of Joint Petition and a Notice of Modified Procedure. Only the Commission Staff filed comments during the comment period.
In its comments, Staff noted that Mobilenet is a GTE affiliated corporation. The rates provided to Mobilenet in this wireless agreement are less than GTE has made available to other wireless providers. When questioned by Staff, GTE indicated the lower rates in this interconnection agreement would be made available to other wireless carriers, and that interconnection agreements already approved could be modified to provide for the lower rates.
Staff recommends approval of the agreement, conditioned on GTE making the same rates available to AT&T Wireless Services and Nextel Communications, two companies that have previously approved wireless interconnection agreements with GTE.
Commission Decision
Should the wireless interconnection agreement between GTE and Mobilenet be approved? Should the Commission condition approval on GTE making the lower rates in this agreement available to AT&T Wireless Services and Nextel Communications?
Weldon Stutzman
vld/M:GTE-T-97-11.ws