27920.docx

(text box: 1)BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICA­TION OF GTE NORTHWEST, INC.  FOR APPROVAL OF AN INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT WITH NEXTEL WEST CORPORATION PURSUANT TO 47 U.S.C. § 252(e).
)
)
)
)
)
)
CASE NO. GTE-T-98-7
ORDER NO. 27920
On December 7, 1998, GTE Northwest Incorporated (GTE) filed an Application for approval of an Interconnection Agreement.  The Agreement provides for GTE and Nextel West Corporation (Nextel) to interconnect their facilities and interchange traffic.  This Agreement was reached through voluntary negotiations without resort to mediation or arbitration and is submitted for approval pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 252(e) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the Act).
Section 252(e)(2) of the Act directs that a state Commission may reject an agreement reached through voluntary negotiations only if the Commission finds that
(i)the agreement (or portions thereof) discriminates against a telecommunications carrier not a party to the agreement; or
(ii)the implementation of such agreement or portion is not consistent with the public interest, convenience and necessity.
GTE asserts that the Agreement does not discriminate against other telecommunication carriers and that it is consistent with the public interest, convenience and necessity.
On January 14, 1999, the Commission issued a Notice of Joint Petition and Notice of Modified Procedure.  Written comments were filed during the comment period only by the Commission Staff.  Staff recommends approval of the agreement.
Based on the recommendation of the Staff, we find that the interconnection agreement between GTE Northwest Incorporated and Nextel West Corporation should be approved.
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Interconnection Agreement between GTE Northwest Incorporated and Nextel West Corporation 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-98-7 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 this Case No.  GTE-T-98-7.  Within seven (7) days after any person has petitioned for reconsideration, any other person may cross-petition for reconsideration.  See Idaho Code § 61-626.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this                  day of February 1999.
                                                                                                                                      DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT
                                                                                           MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

PAUL KJELLANDER, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary
vld/O:GTE-T-98-7.ws2
COMMENTS AND ANNOTATIONS
Text Box 1:
TEXT BOXES
Office of the Secretary
Service Date
February 19, 1999