20040607Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER HANSEN
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL STAFF
FROM:WELDON STUTZMAN
DATE:JUNE 3, 2004
RE:CASE NO. QWE-04-
PETITION FILED BY QWEST CORPORATION TO MODIFY RATE
CONSOLIDATION ORDER NO. 28943
On May 26, 2004 Qwest Corporation filed a Petition asking the Commission to
modify Order No. 28943 issued in Case No. USW-99-21. Order No. 28943 was a final Order
approving consolidation of Qwest wire centers as a method of conserving NXX prefixes. In that
case, U S WES T (now Qwest) recommended different groupings for rate centers, and Qwest'
Group No.6 included Idaho Falls Rexburg, Rigby, Ririe, Roberts, and Shelley. Staff filed
written comments recommending that Rigby and Roberts be removed from Group No.6 and that
the two exchanges be consolidated in, their own group. In its Petition to Modify Order
No. 28943, Qwest requests that Rigby and Roberts now be included in the Idaho Falls
consolidated group.
In its Petition to Modify, Qwest states that Staffs recommendation to exclude Rigby
and Roberts from Group No.6 was based on a concern that consolidating rate centers could
impact the Commission s ability to implement EAS in the future. Qwest asserts that since Order
No. 28943 was entered
, "
there has been no EAS activity relating to Rigby and Roberts, nor does
it appear that such activity is pending or expected." Qwest states in its Petition that customers in
the Rigby and Roberts exchanges have requested certain advanced services from Qwest that it
cannot provide with the existing switches. If the Rigby and Roberts exchanges are included in
the Idaho Falls exchange, Qwest will be able to offer those advanced services to the Rigby and
DECISION MEMORANDUM
Roberts customers by using the Idaho Falls switch, while preserving the customers existing
telephone numbers.
Finally, Qwest asserts in its Petition that the Petition does not present an issue that
requires industry review, does not present a contentious issue, and does not justify opening a
docket prior to a decision. Accordingly, Qwest requests that the Commission determine without
further proceeding to modify Order No. 28943 to include the Roberts and Rigby exchanges in the
Idaho Falls rate center consolidated group.
Staff has reviewed Qwest's Petition and does not have an objection to modification of
Order No. 28943 so that the Rigby and Roberts wire centers are included in the Idaho Falls
consolidated group.
COMMISSION DECISION
Should the Commission approve the Petition of Qwest for Modification of Order
No. 28943 to include Rigby and Roberts exchanges in the consolidated group that is comprised
of the Rexburg, Ririe, Shelley, and Idaho Falls exchanges?
r'J
Weldon Stutzman
VldIM:QWETO411- ws
DECISION MEMORANDUM