19991214Comments.doc

WELDON B. STUTZMAN
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
PO BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074
[phone]
IDAHO BAR NO. 3283

Street Address for Express Mail:
472 W WASHINGTON
BOISE ID 83702-5983

Attorney for the Commission Staff

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT APPLICATION OF GTE NORTHWEST INCORPORATED AND CHOCTAW COMMUNICATIONS, INC., DBA SMOKE SIGNAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR APPROVAL OF AN INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO 47 U.S.C. 252(e).
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CASE NO. GTE-T-99-7

COMMENTS OF THE
COMMISSION STAFF

COMES NOW the Staff of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, by and through its Attorney of record, Weldon B. Stutzman, Deputy Attorney General, and in response to the Notice of Joint Petition for Approval of Interconnection Agreement and Notice of Modified Procedure issued in Order No.28220 on November 23, 1999, submits the following comments.
On November 15, 1999, GTE Northwest Incorporated (GTE) and Choctaw Communications Inc., DBA Smoke Signal Communications (Smoke Signal), a competitive provider of telecommunication services, submitted a Joint Application for approval of a resale Interconnection Agreement in accordance with Section 252(e)(1), (2)(A) of the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Companies indicated the Agreement had been reached through voluntary negotiations, and claimed the Agreement was not discriminatory against any other company, and that it is consistent with the public interest, convenience and necessity. They requested the Commission approve the Agreement without a hearing or intervention by other parties.
Staff reviewed the language of this Agreement and did not find any terms or conditions that Staff would consider discriminatory. The rates and terms are very similar to those contained in other resale agreements submitted by GTE and previously approved by this Commission. Staff concurs with the Companies claim that the Agreement is consistent with the pro-competitive policies of the Commission, the Idaho Legislature, and the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and therefore is consistent with the public interest.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Commission approve the Interconnection Agreement as filed.
DATED at Boise, Idaho, this day of December, 1999.

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Weldon B. Stutzman
Deputy Attorney General

Technical Staff: Wayne Hart

WS:WH/va/i:wpfiles/umisc/comments/gtet997.wsw
STAFF COMMENTS 1 DECEMBER 14, 1999