HomeMy WebLinkAbout20090807final_order_no_30875.pdfOffice of the Secretary
Service Date
August 7, 2009
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION
OF QWEST CORPORATION FOR
APPROVAL OF ITS INTERCONNECTION
AGREEMENT WITH EASTON TELECOM
SERVICES, LLC PURSUANT TO 47 U.c. ~
252( e)
CASE NO. QWE-09-
ORDER NO. 30875
In this case the Commission is asked to approve an Interconnection Agreement
between Qwest Corporation and Easton Telecom Services, LLC.
Commission approves the Interconnection Agreement.
With this Order, the
BACKGROUND
Under the provisions ofthe federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, interconnection
agreements, including amendments thereto, must be submitted to the Commission for approval.
47 US.C. ~ 252(e)(1). The Commission may reject an agreement adopted by negotiations only
if it finds that the agreement: (1) discriminates against a telecommunications carrier not a party
to the agreement; or (2) implementation of the agreement is not consistent with the public
interest, convenience and necessity. 47 US.C. ~ 252(e)(2)(A). As the Commission noted in
Order No. 28427, companies voluntarily entering into interconnection agreements "may
negotiate terms, prices and conditions that do not comply with either the FCC rules or with the
provision of Section 251(b) or (c).Order No. 28427 at 11 (emphasis in original). This
comports with the FCC's statement that "a state commission shall have authority to approve an
interconnection agreement adopted by negotiation even if the terms of the agreement do not
comply with the requirements of (Part 51)." 47 C.R. ~ 51.3.
THE APPLICATION
On July 8, 2009, Qwest submitted an Application for approval of its Interconnection
Agreement with Easton. In this Application, the parties seek the Commission s approval of an
Agreement that includes certain terms, conditions pricing, ancillary services and
telecommunications services available for resale. The Agreement is applicable in locations
within the State of Idaho where both parties are simultaneously offering local exchange service
and Qwest is the incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC).
ORDER NO. 30875
ST AFF RECOMMENDATION
The Staff has reviewed the Application and does not find any terms or conditions that
it considers to be discriminatory or contrary to the public interest. Staff believes that the
Agreement is consistent with the pro-competitive policies of this Commission, the Idaho
Legislature, and the federal Telecommunications Act. Accordingly, Staffrecommended that the
Commission approve Qwest's Application.
COMMISSION DECISION
Under the terms of the Telecommunications Act, interconnection agreements
including amendments thereto, must be submitted to the Commission for approval. 47 U.c. ~
252(e)(I). The Commission s review is limited, however. The Commission may reject an
agreement adopted by negotiation only if it finds that the agreement discriminates against a
telecommunications carrier not a party to the agreement or implementation of the agreement is
not consistent with the public interest, convenience and necessity. Id.
Based upon our review of the Application and Staff s recommendation, the
Commission finds that the Agreement is consistent with the public interest, convenience and
necessity and does not discriminate. Therefore, the Commission finds that the Agreement should
be approved. Approval of this Agreement does not negate the responsibility of either party to
this Agreement to obtain a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity if they are offering
local exchange services or to comply with Idaho Code ~~ 62-604 and 62-606 if they are
providing other non-basic local telecommunications services as defined by Idaho Code ~ 62-603.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest
Corporation and Easton Telecom Services, LLC, Case No. QWE-09-, is approved.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER. Any person interested in this Order (or in issues finally
decided by this Order) may petition for reconsideration within twenty-one (21) days of the
service date of this Order. Within seven (7) days after any person has petitioned for
reconsideration, any other person may cross-petition for reconsideration. See Idaho Code ~ ~ 61-
626 and 62-619.
ORDER NO. 30875
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this (,-rf-..
day of August 2009.
/.
KEMPTON, P SIDENT
MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
~~~
MACK A. REDFORD, C MI IONER
ATTEST:
~IJJe D. Jewell ,
Co mISSIOn Secretary
O:QWE-09-
ORDER NO. 30875