990209.docx

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER HANSEN
COMMISSIONER NELSON
COMMISSIONER SMITH
MYRNA WALTERS
TONYA CLARK
RITA SCOTT
DON HOWELL
STEPHANIE MILLER
JOE CUSICK
WAYNE HART
DAVID SCOTT
WORKING FILE
FROM:WELDON STUTZMAN
DATE:FEBRUARY 9, 1999
RE:CASE NO. GTE-T-98-6; APPLICATION OF GTE AND PREPAID LOCAL ACCESS PHONE SERVICE FOR APPROVAL OF INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT
On November 27, 1998, GTE Northwest Incorporated and Prepaid Local Access Service Company, a local exchange service reseller, filed a Joint Application for approval of an interconnection agreement for service resale.  The Application stated that the agreement had been reached through voluntary negotiations and is submitted for approval pursuant to Section 252(e) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.  On January 13, 1999, the Commission issued a Notice of Modified Procedure and Notice of Joint Petition to process the Application.  Written comments were filed only by the Commission Staff.
Staff reviewed the terms of the agreement and recommended approval of the agreement as filed.  However, Staff noted that terms of the agreement to impose in interim universal service support charge upon all resold basic services is being litigated in another forum.  Staff therefore recom­mended approval, but also recommended the Commission’s Order indicate the Commission is not reaching a conclusion regarding the appropriateness of the interim universal service support charge contained within the agreement.
Commission Decision
Should the interconnection agreement between GTE and Prepaid Local Access be approved, and include language in the Order regarding the interim universal service support charge as recommended by Staff?

Weldon Stutzman
vld/M:GTE-T-98-6.ws