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Home My WebLink About20080709Integra and PAETEC Comments.pdftiegra TELECOM . ~::,',~- r".~ E:; + Integra Telecom 730 Second Avenue South, Suite 900 Minneapolis, MN 55402 ww.integratelecom.com .- '3 10: 41 July 8,2008 Via Email: jeanjewellØ)puc.idaho.gov and Via Overnight Delivery Jean D. Jewell, Secretar Idaho Public Utilities Commission 472 West Washington Boise,ID 83702-5983 RE: Docket No. QWE-T-08-04 Dear Ms. Jewell: Enclosed for fiing are an original and seven copies of the Comments of Integra Telecom andPAETEC. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions. Sincerely,~ Tobe L. Goldberg Legal & Regulatory Adminstrator Integra Telecom 612.436.6084 (Direct) 612.436.6816 (Dept. Fax) tlgoldbergØ)integratelecom.com Enclosures cc: See Attached Certificate of Service *=.,dt5'èd Douglas K. Denney 730 Second Avenue S. Suite 900 Minneapolis, MN 55402 612.436.1606 (Direct) 612.436.6816 (Fax) Company Representative, Integra Telecom BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF QWEST CORPORATION REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO WITHDRAW ITS STATEMENT OF GENERALY AVAILABLE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ) ) ) ) ) ) CASE NO. QWE- T -08-04 COMMENTS OF INTEGRA TELECOM AND PAETEC I. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY Integra Telecom of Idaho, Inc.; Electrc Lightwave, LLC dba Integra Telecom; and Eschelon Telecom, Inc. dba Integra Telecom (collectively refered to as "Integra") i and McLeodUSA Telecommunications Serices, Inc. d//a P AETEC Business Servces ("PAETEC,,)2 oppose the Petition of Qwest Corporation (Qwest's Petition) in this matter. Qwests Petition raises two main issues for this Commission to review: (1) Qwest's proposal to withdraw Qwests Statement of Generally Available Terms and Conditions ("SGAT"); and (2) Qwest's proposal to eliminate the Performance Indicator Definitions ("PIDs") and Performance Assurance Plan ("PAP"). The Commission should deny both proposals. First, Qwests SGAT withdrawal proposal is an attempt to substitute its unilateral negotiations positions (i.e., its Eletrc Lightwave, LLC dba Integra Telecom ("ELI") curently serves customers in Idaho and curently negotiating a new interconnection agreement ("ICA") with Qwest. PA£EC reests inteention in ths matt for the same reasons as set fort in Integr's reent Pettion for Intervention in ths matter. 2 1 "Template" negotiations offer) for Commission reviewed terms (in the SGAT and its exhibits). Second, the PAP, by providing clear wholesale serice quality standards - many of which are party with Qwests retail perormance - is essential to the protection of competition in Idaho. As a provider of local and intrastate long distance telecommunications and data serices in Idaho, Integra is both a Qwest competitor and a Qwest customer that is greatly dependent on Qwest's near-ubiquitous telecommuncations infrastrcture. Integra has intervened in ths proceeding because it has a strong interest in the regulatory tools that provide it some measure of competitive balance in this inherently unbalanced situation. P AETEC likewise seeks to interene in this matter for this reason. One of the regulatory requirements that Integra, P AETEC, and other competitive local exchange carers ("CLECs") rely upon is the availabilty of dominant carers' open, Commission-reviewed offerings such as Qwests SGAT. CLECs also rely upon the Idaho PIDs and corresponding PAP to incent Qwest to provide wholesale services to CLECs in a maner that allows CLECs to compete. Eschelon, a subsidiar of Integra, engaged in lengty negotiations with Qwest in six states3 to arve at an interconnection agreement to succeed the paries' ICAs entered into in 2000-2001. During this ICA negotiation process - in which numerous issues were negotiated to resolution by the paries prior to arbitration - Eschelon depended upon Qwest's SGAT as a key source to help frame its negotiation positions. Without the SGAT, the number of disputed issues for arbitration would have been substantially greater. ELI has similarly relied upon the SGAT as a key source, to help frame its negotiations positions in Idaho. Eschelon and ELI justifiably relied on the SGA T as one negotiation staring point because the SGAT is a document developed though multi-pary workshops with Staff paricipation, grounded in the federal 3 The states are Arzona, Colorado, Minesota, Oregon, Utah and Washington. 2 Telecommuncations Act of 1996,4 and reviewed by the Commission. In contrast, Qwests "template" negotiations proposal is nothing more than Qwest's wish list of ICA terms, representing Qwests going-in positions at the outset of negotiations. As such, it should be given no more weight - or apparent Commission sanction (such as through posting it on the Commission website) - than any other carer's going-in positions. If any web posting of ICA terms is to be considered, it should be CLEC- facing web posting of Qwest's filed and approved interconnection agreements,S so those ters are more readily available when CLECs need to negotiate with Qwest or exercise their opt-in rights under Section 252(i) of the federal Act. The SGAT procedure demonstrably promotes the Commission's mission to foster a competitive intrastate telecommunications market.6 In contrast, Qwest's negotiation Template - proffered as a substitute to the SGAT - is unlateral, unreviewed, and unapproved. Likewise, the Commission approved? and FCC reviewed performance assurance plan ("PAP") provides for an automated mechanism that incents Qwest, the predominant wholesale provider, to provide service quality to CLECs that gives CLECs an opportnity to compete in the retail market. 4 7 Decision Granting Application for Approval of Interconnection Agreement, Docket No. 00T-064, Decision No. 000-245 (March 8, 2000). Qwest does not curently post the approved Qwest interconnection agreements on its website and, in the past, has directed Eschelon to other carers or the commissions to obta copies of public interconnection agreements with Qwest. Qwest (which, unike Eschelon, is a par to those agreements) did not provide docket numbers or other information tht would be helpfu in requesting those Qwest agreements from the commissions. Idaho Statutes Title 62 § 602. Commission's Final Decision on Qwests Corporation's Compliance with Section 271, In the Matter ofU S WEST Communcations, Inc.'s Motion for an Alternative Procedure to Manage its Section 271 Application, Case No. USW-T-00-3, June 10,2002, pp. 3-5. 5 6 3 II. ANALYSIS A. THE OBLIGATION TO FILE A SGAT SHOULD REMAIN BECAUSE IT SERVES THE PURPOSE THAT THE LEGISLATURE INTENDED FACILITATING TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPETITION. 1. Both the SGAT and the Performance Assurance Plan Offer Protection against Discrimation and Anticompetitive or Unilateral Behavior. One function of the SGAT is to help prevent backsliding after Qwest gained 271approval in large part based upon its reliance on those SGAT ters (including the PID and PAP terms).8 Though Qwest argues that the SGAT ''was not the basis for Qwest s successful multi-state section 271 application to the FCC,,,9 the FCC did rely upon Qwests SGAT when evaluating and approving Qwest's request for 271 approval. The FCC's order granting Qwest 271 approval references, cites, and/or discusses Qwest's SGAT 191 times.io Many of these citations reference Qwest s arguments using the terms of the SGAT to demonstrate that Qwest met the competitive checklist. i I In addition, the FCC relied upon the Idaho PAP noting, "that the perormance assurance plans (P AP) that wil be in place in the nine states provide assurance that the local market wil remain open after Qwest receives section 271 authorization in the nine application states.,,12 lO The Pils are in Exhbit B to the SGAT, and the PAP is Exhibit K to the SGAT. Qwest Petition, ii 15. Memorandum Opinion and Order, In the Matter of Application by Qwest Communications International, Inc. for Authorization To Provide In-Region, InterLATA Services in the States of Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, WC Docket No. 02-314, Adopted December 20,2002 ("FCC 271 Approval Ordet'). For example, in the fist cite in paragraph 71 the FCC discounts a concern raised by Covad regardling loop qualification by pointing to the terms and conditions in Qwests SGAT. Footnote 255 reveals that a Qwest ex pare to the FCC citing the SGAT is the source of the FCC's conclusion. FCC 271 Approval Order, ii 440 (emphasis added). The FCC also noted: "The Idao Commission. . . worked with a number of other states though the MCP to address competitive checklist items, section 9 11 12 4 Qwest continues to receive the benefits of its 271 approval but now, after receiving 271 approval, seeks to backslide with respect to its SGAT and PAP commitments. As previously noted, Eschelon and ELI have depended upon the SGAT in negotiations with Qwest because the SGAT has been tested by the paricipation of multiple paries, including Staff, in workshops and hearngs and considered by the Commission. The availability of such a vehicle for negotiation or adoption by CLECs is consistent with the legislatue's chage to the Commssion that "(E)ncourages the development of open competition in the telecommunications industr in accordance with provisions of Idaho law and consistent with the federal telecommunications act of 1996.,,13 Qwest makes an unsupported asserion that interconnection agreements have supplanted the SGA T and rendered them unnecessar.14 As opposed to an after-the- fact dispute resolution under an ICA, SGAT filings require proactive conduct by Qwest to request approval before changes go into effect. In the Qwest-Eschelon interconnection agreement arbitration in Minnesota, the Minnesota commission adopted the ALJ s' finding that Eschelon provided "convincing evidence that the CMP process does not always provide CLECs with adequate protection from Qwest making important unilateral changes in the ters and conditions of interconnection."ls The SGAT is added protection against unlateral action without prior Commission review, because proposed SGAT changes should be filed for approval with the Commission before Qwest implements them. 13 272 Track A requirements, and public interest issues, including post-entr performance assurance issues." ¡d. ii14. Idao Statutes, Title 62 § 602 (4) Qwest Petition, ii 23. MN Arbitrtors' Report, at ii 21-22 (footnote in original; emphasis added). 14 15 5 2. Qwest Makes No Showing in Its Filg That the Need to Support Telecommunications Competition in the State Has Lessened for Section 251/252 Products and Servces. Though its TRO 16 and TRRO 17 Orders, the Federal Communcation Commission (FCC) has signficantly reduced the range of unbundled network elements (UNEs) that ILECs must make available to CLECs at cost-based prices. Since the 271 proceedings, the FCC, in the TRO/TRRO, may have allowed less regulation for certain elements that ILECs no longer must offer on an unbundled basis, the reverse is also tre. The FCC denied the ILECs' request for less regulation for elements that ILECs must continue to offer on an unbundled basis through filed and approved ICAs. The FCC's rejection of the ILECs' request means that UNE ters belong in ICAs and the SGAT and both remain subject to regulation and Commission oversight. Whle these FCC rulings do not require Qwest to withdraw any UNE offering, they do in some cases allow Qwest to do so. The SGAT procedures have long allowed Qwest to modify the SGAT.18 To the extent Qwest claims the SGAT is out of date,19 it is out of date because Qwest unilaterally chose not to update the SGAT. 16 18 Report and Order and Order on Remand and Furher Notice of Proposed Rulemakng, Review of the Section 251 Unbundling Obligations of Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers, CC Docket Nos. 01-338; 96-98; 98-147, 18 FCC Rcd 16978 (reI. Aug. 21, 2003) ("TRO"), vacated in part and remanded, USTA v. FCC, 359 F.3d 554 (D.C. Cir. 2004), cert. denied, 543 U.S. 925,125 S.Ct. 313,160 L.Ed. 2d 223 (2004). Order on Remand, Review of the Section 251 Unbundling Obligations of Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers, WC Docket No. 04-313; CC Docket No. 01-338, FCC 04-290 (reI. Febru 4, 2005) ("TRRO"). A modification of the taffSGAT would be the appropriate vehicle (as opposed to a complete withdrawal of the taffSGAT) for TRO/TRRO changes to the taffSGAT because not all of the products in the taff and SGAT are affected by those FCC orders. For example, the Commssion considered such a request for changes to the SGAT in docket QWE-T-03-24 (htt://ww.puc.state.id.us/internet/cases/summarOWET0324.html). Qwest Petition, p. 1. 17 19 6 3. Qwest's Templates Are No Substitute for the SGAT Process of Commission Review and Approval. As discussed, Qwest touts its negotiations proposals (the "template" offer posted on its website) as a logical successor to the SGAT. Qwest argues that, unlike the SGAT, Qwests going-in "template" proposal has "continued to evolve," "reflects the curent state of the law" and is "more consistent in its language across the fourteen states in which Qwest operates.,,20 In recent arbitrations with Eschelon, however, state commissions and ALJs often rejected Qwests template proposed language in favor of Eschelon's proposed language, finding that Eschelon's language - not Qwest's proposed language - reflected the curent state of the law and should be the language used in the ICA.21 Qwest also fails to explain why the SGAT was not or could not be updated to reflect, not merely Qwests view, but agreement or findings regarding the curent state of the law. In any event, the Commission's ability and jursdiction to review Qwests SGAT are rights that the Commission may exercise in the public interest. Qwests template negotiation positions are not a reasonable substitute for the Commission's SGAT process.22 Qwest's own template proposals are unilateral and are not accountable to anyone but Qwest for their fairness or competitive neutrality. 20 Qwest Petition, ii 24. See, e.g., where Eschelon's languge was adopted in Order Resolvig Arbitrtion Issues, Minesota Docket No. P-5340, 421/IC-06-768, March 30, 2007; Opinon and Order (Decision No. 70356), Arzona Docket Nos. T-03406A-06-0572 & T-O105 lB-06-0572 (May 16,2008); Arbitrator's Report and Decision (Order 16), Washigton Docket UT-063061 (Jan. 18,2008); Arbitrator's Decision, Oregon Docket No. AR 775 (March 26, 2008). When rejecting Qwest s contention that inormation posted on its website need not be contained in a publicly-fied interconnection agreement, for example, the FCC stated tht "(a) 'web-posting exception' would render (Section 252(a)(1)) meanngless, since CLECs could not rely on a website to contain all agreements on a permanent basis." In the Matter of Qwest Corporation Apparent Liabilty for Forfeiture, FCC File No. EB-03-IH-0263, Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeitue (reI. March 12, 2004) ("Qwest Forfeiture Order") at ii32 (emphasis added). Whle an interconnection agreement can be amended and therefore is not "permanent" in the sense that it is frozen in time, the FCC recognied that permanency, or certinty, is needed for the term of an interconnection agreement when not amended. 21 22 7 Anyone who has negotiated a complex contract, regulation, or piece of legislation, knows that no one pary should be the arbiter of the proper "reflection" of the law, prior decisions, or rates, ters and conditions. Language attempting to captue such essential elements should be the product of a proceeding open to all interested paries and the ultimate decision maker, not the unlateral interretation of the proponent. The SGAT, not Qwest-drafted template proposals posted to Qwest s website, fit these crteria. McLeodUSA (now P AETEC) recently asked the Minnesota commission to act as mediator in a dispute with Qwest regarding the appropriate staring point for interconnection agreement negotiations. In Qwest s comments in that proceeding, Qwest made representations similar to those made here.23 Specifically, Qwest said its template negotiations proposal "arses from. . . Commission decisions"; "reflects changes in . . . State commission decisions"; and "reflects commission arbitrations between Qwest and AT&T, Covad, Esche/on and others.',24 A comparison of Qwests template negotiations proposal with the Qwest-Eschelon commssion arbitration decision,2s however, tells a very different story. Attached as Exhbit 1 is a matrx that compares the provisions of the Qwest negotiations template with the Minnesota Commission arbitration decision. It clearly shows that, despite Qwest's claim to the contrar,26 the Qwest 23 24 Applicationfor Variance at pp. 2-3. Qwest Corporation's Response to the Petition of McLeodUSA for Commssion Mediation ("Qwests Response"), MN Docket No. P-5323, 421/M-07-609 (May 30,2007), pp. 2 & 5 (emphasis added). See Order Resolvig Arbitration Issues, Requirg Filed Interconnection Agreement, Openig Investigations And Referrg Issue to Contested Case Proceeding, In the Matter of the Petition of Eschelon Telecom, Inc., for Arbitration of an Interconnection Agreement with Qwest Corporation Pursuant to 47 U.S.c. § 252 (b), MPUC Docket No. P-5340, 421/IC-06-768 (March 30, 2007); Arbitrators' Report, In the Matter of the Petition of Eschelon Telecom, Inc., for Arbitration of an Interconnection Agreement with Qwest Corporation Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 252 (b) of the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996. Docket No. OAR 3-2500-17369-2, MPUC Docket No. P- 5340,42l/C-06-768 (Jan. 16,2007). See Qwest Petition, ii 24 and Qwest Corporation's Response to the Petition of McLedUSA for Commssion Mediation ("Qwests Response"), MN Docket No. P-5323, 421/M-07-609 (May 30,2007), p. 5. 25 26 8 template negotiations proposal does not reflect the Commission Qwest-Eschelon arbitration decision. Although the Qwest template negotiations proposal contains state-specific language when Qwest desires to care out a ter as applicable to only one or more state(s), the Qwest template continues to represent Qwest's unlateral position in ths case. Elevating the Qwest template negotiations proposal to the role of successor or replacement for the SGAT, as suggested by Qwest, would allow Qwest to argue that its own negotiations position has been authorized or sanctioned by the Commission, before Commission review or arbitration of the contents of the template proposal. Any suggestion that the Commission has accepted the Qwest template proposal as a successor or replaceent for the SGAT would give Qwest even more leverage in negotiations than it has today. The SGAT and interconnection agreements continue to address Section 251/252 products, such as UNEs, that the FCC has found to be impaired. Qwest remains the dominant carer with respect to these products, and Qwest s unilateral dominant carer negotiations position should not be sanctioned as a successor or replacement for the SGA T. 4. Qwest's Unilateral and Peremptory Eliation of SGAT Opt-In Rights Contradicts Its Argument That the SGAT is No Longer Necessary to Maintain a Healthy Competitive Environment. Qwest's unlateral withdrawal of its SGAT from availability to CLECs is inconsistent with the general thesis of its Petition - that the competitive climate is farng so well through the use of interconnection agreements that SGATs are simply unecessar. 9 On November 15, 2006, Qwest anounced in a Levell noticé7 that, effective November 16, 2006, its SGAT would be unavailable for opt-in and that it would be replaced with Qwests Negotiation Template Proposal. The anouncement came via a Levell Notice in the multi- carer Change Management Process (CMP).28 According to the governing Qwest Wholesale Change Management Process Document, a Level i Notice is effective immediately, with no CLEC comment cycle.29 Qwest furterore admits that Qwest had not been updating its SGAT to incorporate changes in law since 2004, and that the SGAT was as a result an outdated document. 30 In the meantime, Qwest had been representing to CLECs that it would update the SGATs to reflect changes, such as those made by the TRO/TRRO.31 Qwest explained that it chose to stop updating the SGAT (despite its representations to CLECs to the contrar) because its template proposals were now Qwest s preferred tool with which to negotiate agreements. Qwest did not 27 Excerpts from the Qwest Wholesae Change Mangement Process Document regardig Level 1 changes are attched as Exhbit 2. Qwests Level 1 Notice regarding SGAT unavailabilty is attched as Exhbit 3. Exhbit 4 contains Eschelon's objection to Qwests Levell notice in which Eschelon asked Qwest to withdraw the notice and reintate the SGATs (which Qwest did not do). Exhbit 5 includes screen shots from Qwests web site showig the changed web changes, where now there is no link on the main page to the SGATs (makg them more diffcult to fmd) and, when the user clicks on "Agreements & Amendments" on the main page, the indicated page lists the SGATs under "Reference Only." See Qwest CMP Document, §5.4.2.1 (see Exhbit 2). Eschelon objected anyway (see Exhbit 4) but Qwest implemented the notice over objection. See Qwest Petition, p. 1 and Qwest (Ms. Stewar) Answer Testimony, CO Qwest-Eschelon ICA Arbitration, Docket No. 06B-497T, p. 31 ("the SGATs have not been updated to incorporate changes in law since 2002 and are therefore outdted documents."). Footnote 9 to Ms. Stewar's testimony on page 31 states: "The only exception is that Qwest has periodically updated Exhbit A and Exhbit B as changes have occured in rates and performance indicators."). See also Minnesota PUC Docket No. P-5340, 421/C-06-768; OAR Docket No. 3-2500-17369-2 (not updated since 2003 in Minesota). Throughout 2005 and 2006 (i.e., afer Qwest now says it stopped updating the SGATs), Qwest told Eschelon (through Qwests servce management team, in CMP, and in ICA negotiations) that Qwest would be updatig its SGATs. Qwest indicated review of SGAT changes would occur though CMP and before state commissions. For example, on June 30, 2005, in CMP, Qwest said: "... as SGAT language changes, we wil have a comment period and tht the States wil engage you when decisions are made." (See htt://ww.qwest.com/wholesale/cmp/cr/CR_PC102704-1ES.htm). 28 29 30 31 10 explain why it did not first seek Commission approval to withdraw the SGATs, even where required by commission order to do so.32 Qwests unlateral decisions to phase-out a viable SGAT upon which it parially based its case for obtaining 271 long distance authority - by deliberately rendering it obsolete, and then totally withdrawing the opportty to opt-in to it from CLECs - demonstrate that competitive party is far from achieved. Qwest s own actions show that it is stil ver much the dominant player in the Idaho telecommuncations market place, with the economic ability, if left unchecked, to shape the standard for paries' contractual relationships as it sees fit. The history of Qwest s unilateral conduct regarding the SGA T demonstrates the continued need for the SGAT. 5. Neither the Act Nor State Law Indicates a Lessening of the Need for SGATs to Sustain a Healthy Competitive Environment. Qwest argues that the Act does not require an SGA T and therefore Qwest is not required to maintain its existing SGA T. 33 Examination of the relevant sections of the Act and state law show that interconnection agreements, while without doubt a core piece of the competitive environment, were meant to stand beside SGAT offerngs and not to supplant them. Section 252(t) of the Act places the SGAT under the section heading, "Procedures for negotiation, arbitration, and approval of agreements." The SGAT is not superseded by ICAs; indeed, the Act makes clear that they wil coexist: 32 See, e.g., 271 Opinon and Order, Arzona Decision No. 66201 in ACC Docket No. T-00000A-97-0238, p. 28 ("It is fuer ordered that Qwest Corporation's SGAT, as modified from tie to tie after Commission approval, shall remain available, as the stadard interconnection agreement, unti the Commission authorizes otherwise.") (emphasis added). Qwest Exceptions, ii 20-23.33 11 47 U.S.C. § 252(t)(5) Duty to negotiate not affected. The submission or approval of a statement under ths subsection shall not relieve a Bell operating company of its duty to negotiate the terms and conditions of an agreement under section 251 of this title. This provision has not been repealed or modified. In the typical case in which an interconnection agreement is employed to gover the business relationship between a CLEC and its underlying wholesale carer, the interconnection agreement wil control the paries' relationship but wil not affect the validity of fied SGATs. B. QWEST'S PERFORMANCE ASSURACE PLAN (PAP) AND PERFORMANCE INDICATOR DEFINITIONS (PIDs) AR NECESSARY TO SUSTAIN AND DEVELOP COMPETITION. Qwests request to eliminate the PAP and its associated PIDs from carer's ICAs should be denied. The PAP, by providing clear wholesale servce quality standards is essential to the protection of competition in Idaho. In fact, many of the stadards in the PAP are party with Qwest's retail performance. As Qwest obtains greater deregulation in its retail markets34 the essential natue of Qwests PAP grows in order to ensure Qwest is not able to leverage its dichotomous role as the predominate provider of both wholesale and retail serices. According to the FCC's Local Competition Report, competitor market share in Idaho rans 13th out of the 14 Qwest states.3S Whle competition has been slowly growing in Idaho,36 elimination of wholesale serice quality standards (PIDs) and the automatic enforcement mechansm associated with these standards (PAP) would cerainly weaken competition in Idaho. 34 See for example Docket Nos. QWE-T-05-12 and QWE-T-05-13. Local Telephone Competition: Status as of June 30, 2007, Industr Analysis and Technology Division Wireline Competition Bureau March 2008. Table 7. (http://ww.fcc.gov/wcb/iatdlcomp.html). Local Telephone Competition: Status as of June 30, 2007, Table 8. 35 36 12 Qwest provides no specific evidence that the PAP, including its automatic enforcement mechansms, is no longer necessar. Instead, Qwest seeks to shift the burden to CLECs to require them to individually bring Qwest service quality problems to ths Commission. in each and every instance. The cost of filing a Commission complaint for each instance of a serce quality problem would deter a CLEC's ability to obtain a remedy for those Qwest servce quality problems. In essence, Qwests proposal provides no remedy for poor wholesale service quality at alL. The PAP was designed to address these types of issues, and it continues to sere its intended wholesale service quality role today. 1. The Idaho PIDs and PAP were put into Place to Provide Assurance that Local Markets would Remain Open After Qwest Received 271 Authorization. The Idaho Pils and PAP were put into place in conjunction with the FCC's 271 Approval Order to "provide assurance that the local market wil remain open after Qwest receives section 271 authorization...,,37 The FCC found that the plans were "likely to provide incentives that are suffcient to foster post-entr checklist compliance;,,38 and based ths conclusion on "total liability at risk in the plan; perormance measurement standards and definitions; strctue of the plan; self-executing natue of remedies in the plan; data validation and audit procedures in the plan; and accounting requirements.,,39 2. Substantive Changes to Qwest's Idaho PAP and PIDs have Only Recently Taken Effect and their Impact is Yet Unknown. Most recently, this Commission approved a number of extensive changes to Qwests PAP that were a result of a multi state, multi carer negotiation. These changes were agreed upon by 37 FCC 271 Approval Order, ii 440. FCC 271 Approval Order, ii 440. FCC 271 Approval Order, ii 442. 38 39 13 Qwest and a number of CLECs, including Eschelon (now a subsidiar of Integra) and were the result of a year's wort of negotiations.4o This is consistent with the FCC's observation "that competitive LECs have been involved in the development of these plans, and we anticipate that they wil provide input in those forus which wil review the plans in the futue.',41 The Commission approved these changes fairly recently on November 8, 2007,42 thus the changes have barely had an opportity to take effect. It is disappointing, after the hard work between Qwest and CLECs to negotiate these changes, that Qwest has now abandoned the collaboration approach and seeks wholesale elimination of the PAP and its associated PIDs. 3. Qwest Fails to Provide Evidence that the Idaho PIDs and PAP Should be Elimiated. Qwest makes two eroneous arguents in support of the elimination of the Idaho PIDs and PAP. First, Qwest points to high level perormance data in an attempt to have the Commission ignore the fact that Qwest routinely misses performance standards as well as installation and repair interals. Second, Qwest argues that section 16.3 of the PAP document itself trggers elimination of the PAP and PIDs by this Commission. Qwest claims that its "average Idaho perormance since 2003 has been over 99%,',43 but this statement is misleading. If Qwest perormed at these levels for all performance measures, or even the most crcial of its perormance measures, Qwest would not make any performance payments and Qwest s perormance in Idaho would be the standard for the nation. Ths is not the case. For example, Qwest failed to meet its installation commitment benchmark in 6 of the 40 See Qwests Notice of 2007 Stipulation, In the Matter of Qwest Corporation's Revisions to the Idao Qwest Pedormance Assurance Plan (QP AP), Docket No. QWE- T -03-23, June 26, 2007. FCC 271 Approval Order, ii 445. Order No. 30641, In the Matter of Qwest Corporation's Revisions to the Idao Qwest Pedormance Assurance Plan (QPAP), Docket No. QWE-T-03-23, November 8, 2007. Qwest Exceptions, ii 36. 41 42 43 14 last 12 months for DSI EELs in Interval Zone 1;44 and while Qwest met, on average, its 2-wire loop installation benchmark of six days in all 12 months, Qwest failed to meet, on average, the SGAT installation interval of 5 days in 8 of the 12 months.4S The SGAT calls for Qwest to repair a DS 1 EEL within 4 hours -- Qwest failed to meet this requirement in 65 out of 257 (25% of the time) in the past year.46 Qwest is also incorrect when it states that section 16.3 calls for the elimination of the Idaho PAP when Qwest's Section 272 affiliate requirements are eliminated.47 Section 16.3 of the Idaho PAP, which Qwest only parially quotes, reads as follows: 16.3 Qwest wil make the PAP available for CLEC interconnection agreements until such time as Qwest eliminates its Section 272 affliate. At that time, the Commission and Qwest shall review the appropriateness of the PAP and whether its continuation is necessar. However, in the event Qwest exits the interLAT A market, that State PAP shall be rescinded immediately. Ths section of the PAP requires a Commission review of "the appropriateness of the PAP and whether its continuation is necessar," but is not an unqualified call for elimination. The only reference to elimination in this paragraph is in the instance that Qwest exits the interLATA market. 44 46 See Qwests performance results from June 2007 though May 2008 for OP-3D. See Qwests performance results from June 2007 though May 2008 for OP-4D. See Qwests performance results from June 2007 though May 2008 for MR-5A and MR-5B. It should be noted though the contrct calls for a four hour repair interval for DS 1 EELs the PAP automatic enforcement mechansm, for ths measure, only applies when Qwests performance to CLECs is inerior to Qwests performce for itself. The point of these examples is simply to show that Qwests claims of greater than 99 percent performance does not necessarly tranlate into good performance for individual performance measures. Qwest Petition, ii 33. 45 47 15 4. Qwest's Alternative Proposal to the Idaho PAP is Unworkable and is Tantamount to the Eliation of Wholesale Servce Quality. Qwest claims that it is "committed to providing good serice" and proposes language in its negotiation template "that provides additional written assurance that Qwest wil continue to provide good service...',48 Qwest's proposed languge is without substance, especially without the PIDs and the PAP. For example, Qwests language for Resale Serces in section 6.2.3 states that Qwest wil provide servces "at least equal in quality and in substantially the same time and maner that Qwest provides these services to itself, its subsidiares, its Affliates, other Resellers, and Qwest's retail End User Customers.',49 Qwest requires the CLEC to raise any disputes through dispute resolution and to the Idaho Commission.so Qwest proposes similar languge for interconnection and unbundled network elements. First, without the availability of PID data it would be extraordinarly diffcult for a CLEC to demonstrate Qwests performance fails to meet Qwests contractual "assurances." Second, assuming the CLEC were able to obtain data to show Qwests performance was inadequate, the time and expense involved in bringing a complaint to the Commission would provide Qwest with ver little incentive to resolve the dispute in a "business-to-business"si setting. III. CONCLUSION Qwest has shown no reason that its petition to withdraw the SGAT and the Idaho PAP and PIDs should be granted. Qwest provides no facts to justify a shift from an open, 48 50 Qwest Petition, ii 37. Qwest Petition, Exhibit 1, section 6.2.3. Qwest Petition, Exhibit 1, section 6.2.3.3. Qwest Petition, ii 37. 49 51 16 paricipatory, Commission-centered process to a system of unilateral web po stings of Qwest-only negotiation positions. Cerainly the existence of interconnection agreements is not a new event. Qwest justifies its unilateral withdrawal of its SGAT by stating that its update is overly burdensome, yet declares that its uneviewed negotiation template proposals can be depended upon to reflect developments in law and the decisions of other state commissions. Likewise, Qwest has not demonstrated that the Idaho PAP and PIDs are no longer necessar and should be eliminated. Qwest s proposal to replace the automatic enforcement mechanism of the Idaho PAP and PIDs with Qwest assurances and a process that requires CLECs to raise time consuming and expensive disputes when Qwests perormance fails would har competition in this state and is not in the public interest. For all of the above reasons, the Commission should reject Qwest's Petition. Dated ths 8th day of July, 2008. Respectfully submitted, Doug s K. Deney Director, Costs & Policy 730 Second Avenue S., Suite 900 Minneapolis, MN 55402 612.436.1606 (Direct) 612.436.6816 (Fax) Company Representative, Integra P AETEC authorized submission of these Comments on its behalf 17 Cerificate of Service Dated this 8th day of July, 2008. I do hereby cerify that a tre and correct copy ofthe foregoing Integra and PAETEC's Comments was sered on the following: VIA OVERNIGHT MAIL: Jean D. Jewell (original + seven copies) Idaho PUC 472 West Washington Street P.O. Box 83720 Boise,ID 83702 Telephone: 208.334.0300 Fax: 208.334.3762 VIA U.S. MAIL: Mary S. Hobson 999 Main, Suite 1103 Boise,ID 83702 Telephone: 208.385.8666 Mar.hobson(fgwest.com Adam L. Sherr Corporate Counsel Qwest Corporation 1600 7th Avenue, Room 3206 Seattle, W A 98191 Adam.sher(fqwest.com Michel Singer-Nelson Associate General Counsel 360networks 867 Coal Creek Circle, Suite 160 Louisvile, CO 80027 mnelson(f360.net Greg Rogers Level 3 1025 Eldorado Boulevard Broomfield, CO 80021 Greg.Rogers(fLeve13 .com Bil Haas PAETEC 6400 C Street SW, PO Box 3177 Cedar Rapids, IA 52406 Wiliam.Haas(fmcleodUSA.com 18 EX H I B I T 1 EV I D E N C E C O N T R A Y T O Q W E S T ' S C L A I M T H A T T H E Q W E S T N E G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E " R E F L E C T S CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N S B E T W E E N Q W E S T A N D A T & T , C O V A D , E S C H E L O N A N D O T H E R S , , 1 IS S U E z CO M M I S S I O N D E C I S I O N , O R N E G O T I A T E D R E S U L T NE G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E 3 - AF T E R A R B I T R A T I O N C O M M E N C E D DO E S I T R E F L E C T CO M M I S S I O N A R I T R A T I O N ? RA T E S - E x h i b i t A Is s u e A - 9 ( C o n v e r s i o n Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 u s e o f th e p r e v i o u s l y NO , n o t w i t h r e s p e c t t o c o n v e r s i o n s ch a r g e s ) ap p r o v e d r a t e o f $ 1 . 3 5 f o r c o n v e r s i o n s f r o m p r i v a t e l i n e t o fr o m p r i v a t e l i n e t o U N E l o o p . UN E l o o p ( a s p r o p o s e d b y E s c h e l o n ) f o r S e c t i o n 9 . 2 . 8 o f Mi n n e s o t a E x h i b i t A , S e c t i o n 9 . 2 . 8 , Ex h i b i t A a n d t h e r a t e o f $ 1 1 3 . 8 6 f o r p r i v a t e l i n e t o U D I T to t h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e s h o w s t h e r a t e co n v e r s i o n s f o r S e c t i o n 9 . 6 . 1 2 o f Ex h i b i t A ( i n s t e a d o f th e r a t e re j e c t e d b y t h e A L J s a n d t h i s P U C of $ 1 2 2 . 3 0 p r o p o s e d b y Q w e s t ) . N o e x c e p t i o n s w e r e f i e d o n of $ 3 9 . 0 2 , i n s t e a d o f th e o r d e r e d r a t e th i s i s s u e . of $ 1 . 3 5 . i Q w e s t C o r p o r a t i o n ' s R e s p o n s e t o t h e P e t i t i o n o f Mc L e o d U S A f o r C o m m i s s i o n M e d i a t i o n ( " Q w e s t s R e s p o n s e " ) , M i n n e s o t a D o c k e t N o . P - 5 3 2 3 , 4 2 1 / M - 0 7 - 60 9 ( M a y 3 0 , 2 0 0 7 ) , p . 5 . Q w e s t a l s o c l a i m s t h a t i t s n e g o t i a t i o n s t e m p l a t e " a r i s e s f r o m . . . C o m m i s s i o n d e c i s i o n s " ( Q w e s t s R e s p o n s e , p . 2 ) a n d " r e f l e c t s ch a n g e s i n . . . S t a t e c o m m i s s i o n d e c i s i o n s " ( ¡ d . p . 5 ) . 2 T h e I s s u e r e f e r s t o a n i s s u e i n t h e r e c e n t M i n n e s o t a Q w e s t - E s c h e l o n a r b i t r a t i o n ( D o c k e t N o s . P - 4 2 1 / C I - 0 7 - 3 7 0 ) , u n l e s s o t h e r w s e i n d i c a t e d . 3 T h e Q w e s t n e g o t i a t i o n s t e m p l a t e f r o m t h e Q w e s t w e b s i t e f o r u s i n t h i s m a t r x w a s d a t e d A p r i l 3 0 , 2 0 0 7 . I n a d d i t i o n , s i n c e t h e n , Q w e s t p e r i o d i c a l l y h a s di s t r b u t e d n o t i c e s u p d a t i n g t h a t t e m p l a t e . T h i s m a t r i x r e f e r s t o t h e A p r i l 3 0 , 2 0 0 7 v e r s i o n , u n e s s o t h e r w s e i n d i c a t e d . 1 TH E I S S U E H E R E I S N O T WH E T H E R Q W E S T M U S T A D D A R B I T R A T E D T E R M S T O I T S P R O P O S A L . T H E I S S U E I S , I F QW E S T R E P R E S E N T S T H A T I T S N E G O T I A T I O N S P R O P O S A L ( " T E M P L A T E " ) R E F L E C T S A R B I T R A T E D R E S U L T S (W H I C H M A Y L E A D C L E C S A N D C O M M I S S I O N S T O B E L I E V E T H A T I T D O E S ) , W H E T H E R Q W E S T ' S T E M P L A T E I N FA C T R E F L E C T S C O M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N D E C I S I O N S . EX H I B I T 1 EV I D E N C E C O N T R A Y T O Q W E S T ' S C L A I M T H A T T H E Q W E S T N E G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E " R E F L E C T S CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N S B E T W E E N Q W E S T A N D A T & T , C O V A D , E S C H E L O N A N D O T H E R S , , 1 IS S U E l CO M M I S S I O N D E C I S I O N , O R N E G O T I A T E D R E S U L T NE G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E 3 - AF T E R A R I T R A T I O N C O M M E N C E D DO E S I T R E F L E C T CO M M I S S I O N A R I T R A T I O N ? Is s u e 4 - 5 ( D e s i g n Th i s w a s a d i s p u t e d i s s u e a t t h e t i m e o f f i l i n g t h e a r b i t r a t i o n NO . S e c t i o n 9 . 1 . 1 2 ( g ) o f th e Ch a n g e C h a r g e s ) pe t i t i o n . T h e p a r i e s c l o s e d t h i s l a n g u a g e a f t e r a r b i t r a t i o n te m p l a t e ( " D e s i g n c h a n g e " ) , f o r 1 3 co m m e n c e d f o r M N . st a t e s , i n c l u d i n g M N , s t a t e s : " P r i c e s fo r t h i s m i s c e l l a n e o u s s e r i c e a r e De s i g n C h a n g e c h a r g e s a r e m i s c e l l a n e o u s c h a r g e s . I n t h e ma r k e t - b a s e d , u s i n g Q w e s t s Mi n n e s o t a U N E c o s t d o c k e t t h e M i n n e s o t a A L J s r u l e d ( a n d Ta r f f e d , c a t a l o g e d , p r i c e l i s t e d , o r th e C o m m i s s i o n u p h e l d ) t h a t m i s c e l l a n e o u s c h a r g e s s h o u l d b e ot h e r s i m i l a r l y d o c u m e n t e d p r i c e s , se t t o z e r o . S e e A u g u s t 2 , 2 0 0 2 A L J s ' R e p o r t i n M N P U C an d a r e s u b j e c t t o c h a n g e . " Do c k e t C I - O l - 1 3 7 5 . 4 Is s u e 9 - 5 3 U C C R E Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d t h e D O C ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . NO . T h e M N S G A T c o n t a i n s I C B Ch a r g e Qw e s t d i d n o t f i l e e x c e p t i o n s . ra t e s f o r U C C R E i n S e c t i o n s 9 . 9 . 1 - 9. 9 . 5 o f S G A T E x h i b i t A . Q w e s t s Th e a d o p t e d D O C l a n g u a g e r e f e r s t o t h e t e r m s o f th e S G A T : te m p l a t e s h o w s " I n t e n t i o n a l l y L e f t 9. 9 . 1 Q w e s t s h a l l p r o v i d e U n b u n d l e d C u s t o m e r C o n t r o l l e d Bl a n " f o r S e c t i o n 9 . 9 a n d s u b p a r s Re a r r a n g e m e n t E l e m e n t ( U C C R E ) t o C L E C i n a n o n - of E x h i b i t A . di s c r i m i n a t o r y m a n n e r a c c o r d i n g t o t h e t e r m s a n d c o n d i t i o n s Wi t h o u t f i r s t g o i n g t o t h e of Se c t i o n 9 . 9 a n d s u b p a r s o f th e M i n n e s o t a S G A T , u n l e s s Co m m i s s i o n , a n d d e s p i t e r e p e a t e d 4I d . ( " Q w e s t h a s i d e n t i f i e d a n u m b e r o f m i s c e l l a n e o u s c h a g e s ( i n h a l f - h o u r i n c r e m e n t s , a s o p p o s e d t o q u a r t e r - h o u r i n c r e m e n t s a p p r o v e d i n t h e G e n e r i c C o s t Ca s e ) r e l a t i n g t o a d d i t i o n a l e n g i n e e r i n g , l a b o r , t e s t i n g , a n d m a i n t e n a n c e . S o m e , b u t n o t a l l , a r e l i s t e d f o r p r i c i n g i n t h e S e c o n d U N P r i c i n g P r e h e a r n g O r d e r . Ma n y o f t h e s e c h a r g e s r e l a t e t o t r o u b l e s o n t h e l i n e . Q w e s t s l i s t i s m o d e l e d o n i t s F C C t a r i f f c h a r g e s , a s o p p o s e d t o a n y c o s t s t u d y b a s e d o n T E L R I C me t h o d o l o g y . Q w e s t h a s f a i l e d t o e x p l a i n h o w t h e s e c h a r g e s w o u l d b e a p p l i e d , s u c h a s h o w i t w o u l d d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n s i t u a t i o n s w h e n s u c h c o s t s a r e al r e a d y i n c l u d e d i n e l e m e n t p r i c e s , o r w h e n " a d d i t i o n a l " e n g i n e e r i n g , l a b o r , t e s t i n g , o r m a i n t e n a n c e j u s t i f i a b l y w o u l d b e r e q u i r e d . Q w e s t h a s c l a r i f i e d on l y t h a t n o n e o f t h e s e c h a r g e s w o u l d a p p l y i f t r o u b l e w e r e f o u n d o n Q w e s t s s i d e o f t h e n e t w o r k . Q w e s t h a s f a i l e d t o a d e q u a t e l y e x p l a i n t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f th e s e c h a r g e s , a n d t h e y s h o u l d b e d e l e t e d f r o m i t s S G A T . " ) ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) . 2 TH E I S S U E H E R E I S N O T WH E T H E R Q W E S T M U S T A D D A R I T R A T E D T E R M S T O I T S P R O P O S A L . T H E I S S U E I S , I F QW E S T R E P R E S E N T S T H A T I T S N E G O T I A T I O N S P R O P O S A L ( " T E M P L A T E " ) R E F L E C T S A R I T R A T E D R E S U L T S (W H I C H M A Y L E A D C L E C S A N D C O M M I S S I O N S T O B E L I E V E T H A T I T D O E S ) , W H E T H E R Q W E S T ' S T E M P L A T E I N FA C T R E F L E C T S C O M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N D E C I S I O N S . EX H I B I T 1 EV I D E N C E C O N T R A Y T O Q W E S T ' S C L A I M T H A T T H E Q W E S T N E G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E " R E F L E C T S CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N S B E T W E E N Q W E S T A N D A T & T , C O V A D , E S C H E L O N A N D O T H E R S , , 1 IS S U E z CO M M I S S I O N D E C I S I O N , O R N E G O T I A T E D R E S U L T NE G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E 3 - AF T E R A R I T R A T I O N C O M M E N C E D DO E S I T R E F L E C T CO M M I S S I O N A R I T R A T I O N ? Qw e s t o b t a i n s a p h a s e - o u t o r d e r ( p u r s u a n t t o S e c t i o n 1 . 7 . 3 ) st a t e m e n t s b y Q w e s t t h a t Q w e s t fr o m t h e C o m m i s s i o n w i t h i n f o u r m o n t h s f r o m t h e e f f e c t i v e wo u l d b e u p d a t i n g t h e S G A T , s o n da t e o f t h i s A g r e e m e n t . No v . 1 5 , 2 0 0 6 , Q w e s t d i s t r i b u t e d a Le v e l 1 C M P n o t i c e o n 1 d a y ' s no t i c e s t a t i n g : " T h e S G A T s a r e n o lo n g e r a v a i l a b l e t o o p t i n t o a n d h a v e be e n r e p l a c e d w i t h t h e N e g o t i a t i o n s Te m p l a t e A g r e e m e n t ( N T A ) . " Le v e l 1 c h a n g e s a r e d e f i n e d i n Qw e s t s C M P D o c u m e n t " a s ch a n g e s t h a t d o n o t a l t e r C L E C op e r a t i n g p r o c e d u r e s o r c h a n g e s t h a t ar e t i m e c r i t i c a l c o r r e c t i o n s t o a Qw e s t p r o d u c t / p r o c e s s . " Is s u e 1 2 - 6 7 ( g ) ( E x p e d i t e Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d E s c h e l o n ' s p r i c i n g p r o p o s a l NO . Q w e s t s t e m p l a t e E x h i b i t A f o r Ch a r g e ) (i n c l u d i n g a n i n t e r i m r a t e o f $ 1 0 0 p e r o r d e r ) o n MN d o e s n o t r e f l e c t t h e $ 1 0 0 p e r 1/ 1 6 / 0 6 , t h e M N P U C a d o p t e d t h a t r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o n or d e r i n t e r i m r a t e . T o t h e c o n t r a r y , 3/ 3 0 / 0 7 , a n d Q w e s t d i d n o t m o v e t o r e c o n s i d e r o n t h i s th e b o d y o f t h e t e m p l a t e ( S e c t i o n is s u e . 9. 1 . 1 2 0 ) , u n d e r " e x p e d i t e s " ) s t a t e s 5 S t a r k e y ( E s c h e l o n ) M N S u r e b u t t l , p p . 3 2 - 3 3 . S e e q u o t e f r o m Q w e s t C M P m i n u t e s i n f o o t n o t e b e l o w . 3 TH E I S S U E H E R E I S N O T WH E T H E R Q W E S T M U S T A D D A R B I T R A T E D T E R M S T O I T S P R O P O S A L . T H E I S S U E I S , I F QW E S T R E P R E S E N T S TH A T I T S N E G O T I A T I O N S P R O P O S A L ( " T E M P L A T E " ) R E F L E C T S A R I T R A T E D R E S U L T S (W H I C H M A Y L E A D C L E C S A N D C O M M I S S I O N S T O B E L I E V E T H A T I T D O E S ) , W H E T H E R Q W E S T ' S T E M P L A T E I N FA C T R E F L E C T S C O M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N D E C I S I O N S . EX H I B I T 1 EV I D E N C E C O N T R A Y T O Q W E S T ' S C L A I M T H A T T H E Q W E S T N E G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E " R E F L E C T S CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N S B E T W E E N Q W E S T A N D A T & T , C O V A D , E S C H E L O N A N D O T H E R S , , 1 IS S U E z CO M M I S S I O N D E C I S I O N , O R N E G O T I A T E D R E S U L T NE G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E 3 - AF T E R A R B I T R A T I O N C O M M E N C E D DO E S I T R E F L E C T CO M M I S S I O N A R I T R A T I O N ? Th e A L J s f o u n d ( i r 2 2 2 ) t h a t Q w e s t s t a r i f f r a t e o f $2 0 0 fo r 1 3 s t a t e s , i n c l u d i n g M N : " P r i c e s pe r d a y s e e m s ' ' u n r e a s o n a b l e ' ' p a r i c u l a r l y s i n c e fo r t h i s m i s c e l l a n e o u s s e r v i c e a r e "h i s t o r i c a l l y i n M i n n e s o t a T E L R I C r a t e s h a v e b e e n ma r k e t - b a s e d , u s i n g Q w e s t s su b s t a n t i a l l y l e s s t h a n Q w e s t s t a r f f e d r a t e s f o r s i m i l a r Ta r f f e d , c a t a l o g e d , p r i c e l i s t e d , o r se r v i c e s . T h e A L J s r e j e c t e d Q w e s t s p r o p o s a l t o u s e ot h e r s i m i l a r l y d o c u m e n t e d p r i c e s , ta r f f r a t e , w h i c h Q w e s t c l a i m e d w a s b a s e d o n w h a t t h e an d a r e s u b j e c t t o c h a n g e . " "m a r k e t w i l b e a r . , , 6 Ex p e d i t e c h a r g e s a r e m i s c e l l a n e o u s c h a r g e s . ( S e e A u g u s t 2 , 20 0 2 A L J s ' R e p o r t i n M N P U C D o c k e t C I - 0 1 - 1 3 7 5 - q u o t e d ab o v e ) . UN E o r p r o c e s s Ex h i b i t A o f t h e I C A c o n t a i n s a p p r o v e d r a t e s . T h e NO . T h e E x h i b i t A o f t h e pr e v i o u s l y o f f e r e d Co m m i s s i o n o r d e r e d i n t h e U N E C o s t D o c k e t ( P - 4 2 1 / C I - O l - Ne g o t i a t i o n s T e m p l a t e c o n t a i n s wi t h o u t c h a r g e 13 7 5 ) t h a t " Q w e s t s h a l l o b t a i n C o m m i s s i o n a p p r o v a l b e f o r e nu m e r o u s r a t e s t h a t h a v e n o t b e e n ch a r g i n g f o r a U N E o r p r o c e s s t h a t i t h a s p r e v i o u s l y o f f e r e d ap p r o v e d b y t h e C o m m i s s i o n . wi t h o u t c h a r g e . " ( O r d e r a t P a g e A - 6 ) T h e C o m m i s s i o n a l s o Am o n g t h e s e a r e r a t e s f o r w h i c h or d e r e d t h a t , " T h e p r i c e f o r a l l o t h e r p r o p o s e d N R C s n o t Qw e s t p r e v i o u s l y d i d n o t c h a r g e . sp e c i f i c a l l y s e t s h a l l b e z e r o , u n l e s s Q w e s t p r o p o s e s a p r i c e i n Fo r e x a m p l e , t h e S G A T E x h i b i t A it s c o m p l i a n c e f i l i n g t h a t i s b a s e d o n i t s c o s t s t u d y a d j u s t e d t o fo r 7 . 9 . 4 r e a d s " N o C h a r g e a t T h i s ex c l u d e u n w a r a n t e d m a n u a l a c t i v i t i e s a n d f i e l d v e r i f i c a t i o n s , Ti m e " w h i l e t h e N e g o t i a t i o n s an d t o u s e a p p r o p r i a t e i n p u t s a p p r o v e d i n t h i s d o c k e t o r i n t h e Te m p l a t e E x h i b i t A c o n t a i n s a r a t e Ge n e r i c C o s t C a s e ( f l o w - t h r o u g h , o v e r h e a d , e t c . ) A L J R e p o r t in t h i s s e c t i o n . Q w e s t h a s a l s o 6 M i n e s o t a Q w e s t - E s c h e l o n I C A a r b i t r a t i o n , Q w e s t ( M i l i o n ) R e b u t t l , p . 2 1 , l i n e 2 2 . 4 TH E I S S U E H E R E I S N O T WH E T H E R Q W E S T M U S T A D D A R B I T R A T E D T E R M S T O I T S P R O P O S A L . T H E I S S U E I S , I F QW E S T R E P R E S E N T S TH A T I T S N E G O T I A T I O N S P R O P O S A L ( " T E M P L A T E " ) R E F L E C T S A R B I T R A T E D R E S U L T S (W H I C H M A Y L E A D C L E C S A N D C O M M I S S I O N S T O B E L I E V E T H A T I T D O E S ) , W H E T H E R Q W E S T ' S T E M P L A T E I N FA C T R E F L E C T S C O M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N D E C I S I O N S . EX H I B I T 1 EV I D E N C E C O N T R A Y T O Q W E S T ' S C L A I M T H A T T H E Q W E S T N E G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E " R E F L E C T S CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N S B E T W E E N Q W E S T A N D A T & T , C O V A D , E S C H E L O N A N D O T H E R S , , 1 IS S U E ~ CO M M I S S I O N D E C I S I O N , O R N E G O T I A T E D R E S U L T NE G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E 3 - AF T E R A R I T R A T I O N C O M M E N C E D DO E S I T R E F L E C T CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N ? p. 4 8 . " ( O r d e r a t A - 4 , I t e m 8 . 1 . ) in c l u d e d N R C s i n i t s N e g o t i a t i o n s Te m p l a t e t h a t p r e v i o u s l y d i d n o t ex i s t f o r U n b u n d l e d D a r k F i b e r (9 . 7 . 2 - F i e l d V e r i f i c a t i o n a n d Qu o t e P r e p a r a t i o n & 9 . 7 . 3 En g i n e e r i n g V e r i f i c a t i o n ) . TE X T O F I C A Is s u e 1 - 1 a n d s u b p a r s Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d E s c h e l o n ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 , t h e NO . T h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e c o n t a i n s (I n t e r v a l C h a n g e s a n d MN P U C a d o p t e d t h a t r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o n 3 / 3 0 / 0 7 , a n d Q w e s t st a t e - s p e c i f i c l a n g u a g e f o r s o m e Pl a c e m e n t ) ; S e c t i o n di d n o t m o v e t o r e c o n s i d e r o n t h i s i s s u e . is s u e s , b u t i t d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h e 1. 7 . 2 a n d E x h i b i t s N a n d la n g u a g e ( o r t h e p r i n c i p l e ) a d o p t e d 0 Th e A L J s f o u n d : " E s c h e l o n h a s p r o v i d e d c o n v i n c i n g by t h e M N P U C f o r M N . T h e ev i d e n c e t h a t t h e C M P p r o c e s s d o e s n o t a l w a y s p r o v i d e te m p l a t e r e f e r s c h a n g e s i n i n t e r a l s CL E C s w i t h a d e q u a t e p r o t e c t i o n f r o m Q w e s t m a k i n g to C M P . im p o r t a n t u n i l a t e r a l c h a n g e s i n t h e t e r m s a n d co n d i t i o n s o f i n t e r c o n n e c t i o n . " ? In f a c t , a f t e r t h e a r b i t r a t i o n , Q w e s t de l e t e d S e c t i o n 1 . 7 a n d E x h i b i t s L & Es c h e l o n ' s p r o p o s a l f o r S e c t i o n s 1 . 7 . 2 a n d E x h i b i t s N a n d 0 M f r o m i t s t e m p l a t e f o r a l l s t a t e s , we r e s u b s t a n t i a l l y t h e s a m e a s S e c t i o n 1 . 7 . 1 a n d E x h i b i t s L & in c l u d i n g M N . S e c t i o n 1 . 7 a n d M o f t h e S G A T , e x c e p t t h a t E s c h e l o n ' s p r o p o s a l r e l a t e d t o Ex h i b i t s L & M r e m a i n p a r o f t h e in t e r a l s r a t h e r t h a n n e w p r o d u c t s . B o t h 1 . 7 . 1 a n d 1 . 7 . 2 a n d MN S G A T a n d t h e Q w e s t - E s c h e l o n 7 M N A r b i t r a t o r s ' R e p o r t ~ 2 2 ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) . 5 TH E I S S U E H E R E I S N O T WH E T H E R Q W E S T M U S T A D D A R I T R A T E D T E R M S T O I T S P R O P O S A L . T H E I S S U E I S , I F QW E S T R E P R E S E N T S T H A T I T S N E G O T I A T I O N S P R O P O S A L ( " T E M P L A T E " ) R E F L E C T S A R I T R A T E D R E S U L T S (W H I C H M A Y L E A D C L E C S A N D C O M M I S S I O N S T O B E L I E V E T H A T I T D O E S ) , W H E T H E R Q W E S T ' S T E M P L A T E I N FA C T R E F L E C T S C O M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N D E C I S I O N S . EX H I B I T 1 EV I D E N C E C O N T R A Y T O Q W E S T ' S C L A I M T H A T T H E Q W E S T N E G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E " R E F L E C T S CO M M I S S I O N A R I T R A T I O N S B E T W E E N Q W E S T A N D A T & T , C O V A D , E S C H E L O N A N D O T H E R S , , 1 IS S U E 2 CO M M I S S I O N D E C I S I O N , O R N E G O T I A T E D R E S U L T NE G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E j - AF T E R A R B I T R A T I O N C O M M E N C E D DO E S I T R E F L E C T CO M M I S S I O N A R I T R A T I O N ? al l f o u r e x h i b i t s a r e p a r o f t h e M N E s c h e l o n - Q w e s t I C A a f t e r MN a g r e e m e n t , b u t Q w e s t d e l e t e d th e a r b i t r a t i o n . th e m f r o m i t s t e m p l a t e u s i n g a n o n - CM P n o t i c e t h a t w a s e f f e c t i v e im m e d i a t e l y w i t h o u t c o m m e n t . 8 Is s u e 2 - 3 ( E f f e c t i v e D a t e Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d t h e D O C ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . NO . T h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e c o n t a i n s of L e g a l l y B i n d i n g Ne i t h e r p a r y f i l e d e x c e p t i o n s . st a t e - s p e c i f i c l a n g u a g e f o r s o m e Ch a n g e s - C h a n g e i n is s u e s , b u t i t d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h e La w ) la n g u a g e ( o r t h e p r i n c i p l e ) a d o p t e d by t h e M N P U C f o r M N . Q w e s t s te m p l a t e s h o w s Q w e s t s p r o p o s e d la n g u a g e f o r M N , w i t h o u t t h e D O C mo d i f i c a t i o n s . Is s u e 2 - 4 ( E f f e c t i v e D a t e Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d t h e D O C ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . NO . T h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e T h e of a L e g a l l y B i n d i n g Ne i t h e r p a r y f i l e d e x c e p t i o n s . Qw e s t t e m p l a t e c o n t a i n s s t a t e - Ch a n g e - C h a n g e i n sp e c i f i c l a n g u a g e f o r s o m e i s s u e s , La w ) bu t i t d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h e l a n g u a g e (o r t h e p r i n c i p l e ) a d o p t e d b y t h e M N PU C f o r M N . Q w e s t s t e m p l a t e sh o w s Q w e s t ' s p r o p o s e d l a n g u a g e 8 I n t h e f o l l o w i g n o n - C M P A p r i l 27 , 2 0 0 7 n o t i c e ( e f f e c t i v e A p r i l 30 , 2 0 0 7 ) , Q w e s t a n o u n c e d d e l e t i o n o f Se c t i o n 1 . 7 i n t h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e : ht t : / / w w w . g w e s t . c o m / w h o l c s a l e / c n l a l u p l o a d s / P R O S % 2 E 0 4 % 2 E 2 7 % 2 E 0 7 % 2 E F % 2 E 0 4 6 5 2 % 2 E N e g T e m p l a t e % 5 F W i r e l e s s % 2 E d o c . I n t h e f o l l o w i n g n o n - CM P M a y 2 3 , 2 0 0 7 n o t i c e ( e f f e c t i v e M a y 2 4 , 2 0 0 7 ) , Q w e s t a n o u n c e d i t w a s r e m o v i n g e x h i b i t s L & M f r o m t h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e : ht t p : / / w w . g w e s t . c o m / w h o l e s a l e / c n l a / u p l o a d s / P R O S % 2 E 0 5 % 2 E 2 3 % 2 E O 7 % 2 E F % 2 E 0 4 7 0 0 % 2 E N e g T e m p A g r e e m e n t l l o 2 E d o c 6 TH E I S S U E H E R E I S N O T WH E T H E R Q W E S T M U S T A D D A R B I T R A T E D T E R M S T O I T S P R O P O S A L . T H E I S S U E I S , I F QW E S T R E P R E S E N T S TH A T I T S N E G O T I A T I O N S P R O P O S A L ( " T E M P L A T E " ) R E F L E C T S A R I T R A T E D R E S U L T S (W H I C H M A Y L E A D C L E C S A N D C O M M I S S I O N S T O B E L I E V E T H A T I T D O E S ) , W H E T H E R Q W E S T ' S T E M P L A T E I N FA C T R E F L E C T S C O M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N D E C I S I O N S . EX H I B I T 1 EV I D E N C E C O N T R A Y T O Q W E S T ' S C L A I M T H A T T H E Q W E S T N E G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E " R E F L E C T S CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N S B E T W E E N Q W E S T A N D A T & T , C O V A D , E S C H E L O N A N D O T H E R S , , 1 IS S U E l CO M M I S S I O N D E C I S I O N , O R N E G O T I A T E D R E S U L T NE G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E 3 - AF T E R A R B I T R A T I O N C O M M E N C E D DO E S I T R E F L E C T CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N ? fo r M N , w i t h o u t t h e D O C mo d i f i c a t i o n s . Is s u e 4 - 5 ( D e s i g n Th i s w a s a d i s p u t e d i s s u e a t t h e t i m e o f f i l i n g t h e a r b i t r a t i o n NO . T h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e d o e s n o t Ch a n g e s ) ; S e c t i o n s pe t i t i o n . T h e p a r i e s c l o s e d t h i s l a n g u a g e a f t e r a r b i t r a t i o n co n t a i n t h e Q w e s t - E s c h e l o n 9. 2 . 3 . 8 , 9 . 2 . 3 . 9 , 9 . 6 . 3 . 6 co m m e n c e d f o r M N . la n g u a g e o r t h e S G A T l a n g u a g e . Fo r e x a m p l e , t h e S G A T a n d t h e Es c h e l o n I C A p r o v i d e t h a t d e s i g n ch a n g e c h a r g e s d o n o t a p p l y i f t h e ch a n g e i s c a u s e d b y Q w e s t . T h i s la n g u a g e i s n o t i n t h e s e s e c t i o n s o f th e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e . I n a d d i t i o n , al t h o u g h t h e S G A T c o n t a i n s n o de s i g n c h a n g e l a n g u a g e i n t h e l o o p se c t i o n , Q w e s t ' s t e m p l a t e l o o p se c t i o n s t a t e s t h a t m i s c e l l a n e o u s ch a r g e s a p p l y . I n t e m p l a t e S e c t i o n 9. 1 . 1 2 , Q w e s t d e f i n e s m i s c e l l a n e o u s ch a r g e s ( i n c l u d i n g d e s i g n c h a n g e s ) br o a d l y ( a n d d i f f e r e n t l y f r o m t h e Es c h e l o n I C A a n d t h e S G A T ) . Is s u e 5 - 6 Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d l a n g u a g e n o t p r o p o s e d b y e i t h e r NO . T h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e c o n t a i n s (D i s c o n t i n u a t i o n o f co m p a n y on 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 , t h e D O C r e c o m m e n d e d l a n g u a g e o n st a t e - s p e c i f i c l a n g u a g e f o r s o m e or d e r p r o c e s s i n g ) 1/ 2 6 / 0 7 , t h e M N P U C a d o p t e d t h a t D O C r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o n is s u e s , b u t i t d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h e 7 TH E I S S U E H E R E I S N O T WH E T H E R Q W E S T M U S T A D D A R I T R A T E D T E R M S T O I T S P R O P O S A L . T H E I S S U E I S , I F QW E S T R E P R E S E N T S T H A T I T S N E G O T I A T I O N S P R O P O S A L ( " T E M P L A T E " ) R E F L E C T S A R B I T R A T E D R E S U L T S (W H I C H M A Y L E A D C L E C S A N D C O M M I S S I O N S T O B E L I E V E T H A T I T D O E S ) , W H E T H E R Q W E S T ' S T E M P L A T E I N FA C T R E F L E C T S C O M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N D E C I S I O N S . EX H I B I T 1 EV I D E N C E C O N T R A Y T O Q W E S T ' S C L A I M T H A T T H E Q W E S T N E G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E " R E F L E C T S CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N S B E T W E E N Q W E S T A N D A T & T , C O V A D , E S C H E L O N A N D O T H E R S , , 1 IS S U E z CO M M I S S I O N D E C I S I O N , O R N E G O T I A T E D R E S U L T NE G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E j - AF T E R A R B I T R A T I O N C O M M E N C E D DO E S I T R E F L E C T CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N ? 3/ 3 0 / 0 7 . Q w e s t m o v e d t o r e c o n s i d e r o n t h i s i s s u e , a n d t h e la n g u a g e ( o r t h e p r i n c i p l e ) a d o p t e d Co m m i s s i o n d e n i e d t h a t m o t i o n i n a w r t t e n o r d e r d a t e d by t h e M N P U C f o r M N . Q w e s t s 6/ 4 / 0 7 . te m p l a t e s h o w s Q w e s t s p r o p o s e d la n g u a g e f o r M N , w i t h o u t t h e D O C mo d i f i c a t i o n s . Is s u e 5 - 8 ( M a g n i t u d e i n Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d Q w e s t s l a n g u a g e o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . Th e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e d i d n o t c h a n g e Di s p u t e ) Es c h e l o n d i d n o t f i l e e x c e p t i o n s . af t e r t h i s r u l i n g . Q w e s t h a d i t s o w n la n g u a g e i n t h e t e m p l a t e b e f o r e a n d af t e r t h i s r u l i n g . Is s u e s 5 - 9 a n d 5 - 1 2 Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d E s c h e l o n ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 , t h e NO . T h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e c o n t a i n s (D e f i n i t i o n o f MN P U C a d o p t e d t h a t r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o n 3 / 3 0 / 0 7 , a n d Q w e s t st a t e - s p e c i f i c l a n g u a g e f o r s o m e Re p e a t e d l y D e l i n q u e n t ) di d n o t m o v e t o r e c o n s i d e r o n t h s i s s u e . is s u e s , b u t i t d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h e la n g u a g e ( o r t h e p r i n c i p l e ) a d o p t e d by t h e M N P U C f o r M N . Is s u e 5 - 1 1 ( D i s p u t i n g Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d Q w e s t s l a n g u a g e o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . Th e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e d i d n o t c h a n g e th e D e p o s i t Es c h e l o n d i d n o t f i e e x c e p t i o n s ( s o l o n g a s t h e c o m p r o m i s e af t e r t h i s r u l i n g . Q w e s t h a d i t s o w n Re q u i r e m e n t ) re c o m m e n d e d b y t h e A L J s w a s a d o p t e d ) . la n g u a g e i n t h e t e m p l a t e b e f o r e a n d af t e r t h i s r u l i n g . Is s u e 5 - 1 3 ( I n c r e a s e i n Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d E s c h e l o n ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 , t h e NO . T h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e c o n t a i n s De p o s i t B a s e d U p o n MN P U C a d o p t e d t h a t r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o n 3 / 3 0 / 0 7 , a n d Q w e s t st a t e - s p e c i f i c l a n g u a g e f o r s o m e Re v i e w o f C r e d i t di d n o t m o v e t o r e c o n s i d e r o n t h i s i s s u e . is s u e s , b u t i t d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h e St a n d i n g ) la n g u a g e ( o r t h e p r i n c i p l e ) a d o p t e d by t h e M N P U C f o r M N . 8 TH E I S S U E H E R E I S N O T WH E T H E R Q W E S T M U S T A D D A R I T R A T E D T E R M S T O I T S P R O P O S A L . T H E I S S U E I S , I F QW E S T R E P R E S E N T S TH A T I T S N E G O T I A T I O N S P R O P O S A L ( " T E M P L A T E " ) R E F L E C T S A R I T R A T E D R E S U L T S (W H I C H M A Y L E A D C L E C S A N D C O M M I S S I O N S T O B E L I E V E T H A T I T D O E S ) , W H E T H E R Q W E S T ' S T E M P L A T E I N FA C T R E F L E C T S C O M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N D E C I S I O N S . EX H I B I T 1 EV I D E N C E C O N T R A Y T O Q W E S T ' S C L A I M T H A T T H E Q W E S T N E G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E " R E F L E C T S CO M M I S S I O N A R I T R A T I O N S B E T W E E N Q W E S T A N D A T & T , C O V A D , E S C H E L O N A N D O T H E R S , , 1 IS S U E 2 CO M M I S S I O N D E C I S I O N , O R N E G O T I A T E D R E S U L T NE G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E j - AF T E R A R I T R A T I O N C O M M E N C E D DO E S I T R E F L E C T CO M M I S S I O N A R I T R A T I O N ? Is s u e 5 - 1 6 ( C o p y o f Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d Q w e s t s l a n g u a g e o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . Th e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e d i d n o t c h a n g e N o n - D i s c l o s u r e Es c h e l o n d i d n o t f i l e e x c e p t i o n s . af t e r t h i s r u l i n g . Q w e s t h a d i t s o w n Ag r e e m e n t ) la n g u a g e i n t h e t e m p l a t e b e f o r e a n d af t e r t h i s r u l i n g . Is s u e s 7 - 1 8 a n d 7 - 1 9 Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d E s c h e l o n ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 , NO . T h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e c o n t a i n s (T r a n s i t R e c o r d C h a r g e , Qw e s t f i l e d e x c e p t i o n s t o b o t h i s s u e s . 9 T h e C o m m i s s i o n d i d st a t e - s p e c i f i c l a n g u a g e f o r s o m e Tr a n s i t R e c o r d B i l no t i n d i c a t e i n i t s M a r c h 3 0 , 2 0 0 7 o r d e r t h a t i t w a s a c t i n g u p o n is s u e s , b u t i t d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h e Va l i d a t i o n ) ; S e c t i o n s ei t h e r o f Qw e s t ' s e x c e p t i o n s . Q w e s t d i d n o t m o v e t o la n g u a g e a d o p t e d b y t h e M N P U C 7. 6 . 3 . 1 a n d 7 . 6 . 4 re c o n s i d e r o n t h e s e i s s u e s . fo r M N f o r e i t h e r o f t h e s e pa r a g r a p h s . Is s u e 8 - 2 0 ( C o l l o c a t i o n Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d E s c h e l o n ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . NO . D e s p i t e t h e a r b i t r a t e d d e c i s i o n Av a i l a b l e I n v e n t o r y ; Qw e s t d i d n o t f i l e e x c e p t i o n s . in M N a n d a n a g r e e m e n t o n t h e s e Po s t i n g o f Pr i c e s ) ; se c t i o n s f o r a l l s i x s t a t e s , Q w e s t s Se c t i o n s 8 . 1 . 1 . 1 0 . 1 . 1 . 1 Af t e r t h e A L J s ' r u l i n g , Q w e s t a g r e e d t o c l o s e t h e s e s e c t i o n s te m p l a t e d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h a t & 8 . 2 . 1 0 . 4 . 3 fo r a l l s i x s t a t e s . la n g u a g e f o r a n y s t a t e . Is s u e 8 - 2 1 ( D C Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t t h e s e i s s u e s b e r e v i e w e d i n t h e Th e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e d i d n o t c h a n g e Po w e r / U s a g e P r i c i n g ) ; UN E c o s t c a s e , w h i l e u s i n g Q w e s t s l a n g u a g e i n t h e af t e r t h i s r u l i n g . Q w e s t h a d i t s o w n Se c t i o n 8 . 2 . 1 . 2 9 . 2 . 1 a n d me a n t i m e , o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . E s c h e l o n d i d n o t f i l e a n e x c e p t i o n . la n g u a g e i n t h e t e m p l a t e b e f o r e a n d ad d i t i o n a l s e c t i o n s af t e r t h i s r u l i n g . Is s u e 9 - 3 1 Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d E s c h e l o n ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . NO . T h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e c o n t a i n s (N o n d i s c r m i n a t o r y Qw e s t d i d n o t f i l e e x c e p t i o n s . st a t e - s p e c i f i c l a n g u a g e f o r s o m e 9 I n Q w e s t ' s J a n . 2 6 , 2 0 0 7 e x c e p t i o n s ( p . 8 ) . Q w e s t s t a t e d : " T h i s C o m m i s s i o n s h o u l d r e j e c t t h e A r b i t r a t o r s ' r u l i n g o n I s s u e s 7 - 1 8 a n d 7 - 1 9 . " N o n e t h e l e s s , w i t h re s p e c t t o t h e u p c o m i n g I C A c o m p l i a n c e f i l i n g , Q w e s t i s t a i n g t h e p o s i t i o n t h a t t h e A r b i t r a t o r s r u l e d i n Q w e s t s f a v o r r e g a r d i n g 7 - 1 9 . 9 TH E I S S U E H E R E I S N O T WH E T H E R Q W E S T M U S T A D D A R B I T R A T E D T E R M S T O I T S P R O P O S A L . T H E I S S U E I S , I F QW E S T R E P R E S E N T S TH A T I T S N E G O T I A T I O N S P R O P O S A L ( " T E M P L A T E " ) R E F L E C T S A R I T R A T E D R E S U L T S (W H I C H M A Y L E A D C L E C S A N D C O M M I S S I O N S T O B E L I E V E T H A T I T D O E S ) , W H E T H E R Q W E S T ' S T E M P L A T E I N FA C T R E F L E C T S C O M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N D E C I S I O N S . EX H I B I T 1 EV I D E N C E C O N T R A Y T O Q W E S T ' S C L A I M T H A T T H E Q W E S T N E G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E " R E F L E C T S CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N S B E T W E E N Q W E S T A N D A T & T , C O V A D , E S C H E L O N A N D O T H E R S , , 1 IS S U E " CO M M I S S I O N D E C I S I O N , O R N E G O T I A T E D R E S U L T NE G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E j - AF T E R A R B I T R A T I O N C O M M E N C E D DO E S I T R E F L E C T CO M M I S S I O N A R I T R A T I O N ? Ac c e s s t o U N E s ) ; is s u e s , b u t i t d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h e Se c t i o n 9 . 1 . 2 la n g u a g e a d o p t e d b y t h e M N P U C fo r M N o n t h i s i s s u e . Is s u e 9 - 3 2 ( D e l a y e d Th i s w a s a d i s p u t e d i s s u e a t t h e t i m e o f f i l i n g t h e a r b i t r a t i o n NO , t h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e c o n t i n u e s t o Or d e r s W h e n F a c i l i t i e s pe t i t i o n . T h e p a r i e s c l o s e d t h i s l a n g u a g e a f t e r a r b i t r a t i o n pr o v i d e f o r c a n c e l l a t i o n a f t e r 3 0 Ar e N o t A v a i l a b l e ) ; co m m e n c e d f o r , t h e f i v e s t a t e s i n w h i c h i t w a s o p e n , i n c l u d i n g da y s a n d n o t 9 0 d a y s f o r a l l s t a t e s . Se c t i o n s S e c t i o n s MN . E s c h e l o n p r o v i d e d f o u r a l t e r n a t i v e l a n g u a g e p r o p o s a l s ; Qw e s t a l s o h a s n o e x c e p t i o n f o r 9. 1 . 2 . 1 . 3 . 2 . 1 , Qw e s t s e l e c t e d t h e s e c o n d o p t i o n ( c a n c e l l e d b y Q w e s t a f t e r 9 0 Wa s h i n g t o n i n i t s t e m p l a t e , t h o u g h 9. 1 . 2 . 1 . 3 . 2 . 2 ; 9 . 2 . 2 . 3 . 2 da y s i n s t e a d o f 3 0 d a y s ) . Q w e s t s w i t n e s s t e s t i f i e d : " Q w e s t in W a s h i n g t o n t h e o r d e r r e m a i n s & 9 . 2 . 2 . 1 6 ha s a l r e a d y n o t i f i e d C L E C s o f t h e a c c e p t a n c e o f t h i s p r o p o s a l pe n d i n g u n t i l f i l l e d o r C L E C vi a t h e C h a n g e M a n a g e m e n t P r o c e s s ( C M P ) , a n d t h i s c h a n g e ca n c e l s . A l t h o u g h Q w e s t c l a i m s i t in p o l i c y ( a s a d v o c a t e d b y E s c h e l o n ) h a s b e e n i n e f f e c t f o r a l l ch a n g e d f r o m 3 0 t o 9 0 d a y s i n C M P , CL E C s i n M i n n e s o t a a s o f J u l y 1 4 , 2 0 0 6 . " i o as b e t w e e n C M P a n d t h e I C A , t h e IC A c o n t r o l s . C L E C s s i g n i n g t h e te m p l a t e w i l b e g o v e r e d b y t h e 3 0 da y p e r i o d , a n d n o t t h e 9 0 d a y pe r i o d i n t h e E s c h e l o n I C A a n d t h e PC A T . Is s u e 9 - 3 3 ( N e t w o r k Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d t h e D O C ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . NO . T h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e c o n t a i n s Ma i n t e n a n c e a n d Qw e s t d i d n o t f i l e e x c e p t i o n s . st a t e - s p e c i f i c l a n g u a g e f o r s o m e Mo d e r n i z a t i o n ) ; S e c t i o n is s u e s , b u t i t d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h e 9. 1 . 9 la n g u a g e a d o p t e d b y t h e M N P U C 10 Q w e s t - E s c h e l o n i e A M N a r b i t r a t i o n , Q w e s t ( S t e w a r ) R e b u t t l ( S e p t . 2 2 , 2 0 0 6 ) , p . 1 5 , l i n e 2 8 - p . 1 6 l i n e 2 . 10 TH E I S S U E H E R E I S N O T WH E T H E R Q W E S T M U S T A D D A R B I T R A T E D T E R M S T O I T S P R O P O S A L . T H E I S S U E I S , I F QW E S T R E P R E S E N T S T H A T I T S N E G O T I A T I O N S P R O P O S A L ( " T E M P L A T E " ) R E F L E C T S A R I T R A T E D R E S U L T S (W H I C H M A Y L E A D C L E C S A N D C O M M I S S I O N S T O B E L I E V E T H A T I T D O E S ) , W H E T H E R Q W E S T ' S T E M P L A T E I N FA C T R E F L E C T S C O M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N D E C I S I O N S . EX H I B I T 1 EV I D E N C E C O N T R A Y T O Q W E S T ' S C L A I M T H A T T H E Q W E S T N E G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E " R E F L E C T S CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N S B E T W E E N Q W E S T A N D A T & T , C O V A D , E S C H E L O N A N D O T H E R S , , 1 IS S U E z CO M M I S S I O N D E C I S I O N , O R N E G O T I A T E D R E S U L T NE G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E , j - AF T E R A R I T R A T I O N C O M M E N C E D DO E S I T R E F L E C T CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N ? fo r M N o n t h i s i s s u e . Is s u e 9 - 3 3 ( a ) Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d E s c h e l o n ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . NO . T h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e c o n t a i n s (R e l a t i o n s h i p B e t w e e n Qw e s t d i d n o t f i l e e x c e p t i o n s . st a t e - s p e c i f i c l a n g u a g e f o r s o m e Se c t i o n 9 . 1 . 9 a n d is s u e s , b u t i t d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h e Co p p e r R e t i r e m e n t ) ; la n g u a g e a d o p t e d b y t h e M N P U C Se c t i o n 9 . 1 . 9 fo r M N o n t h i s i s s u e . Is s u e 9 - 3 4 ( L o c a t i o n a t Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d t h e D O C ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . NO . T h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e c o n t a i n s Wh i c h C h a n g e s O c c u r ) ; Qw e s t d i d n o t f i e e x c e p t i o n s . st a t e - s p e c i f i c l a n g u a g e f o r s o m e Se c t i o n 9 . 1 . 9 is s u e s , b u t i t d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h e la n g u a g e a d o p t e d b y t h e M N P U C fo r M N o n t h i s i s s u e . Is s u e s 9 - 4 3 & 9 - 4 4 Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d o p e n i n g o f a g e n e r i c d o c k e t , w i t h u s e Th e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e d i d n o t c h a n g e (C o n v e r s i o n o f a U N E of Q w e s t l a n g u a g e i n t h e m e a n t i m e . T h e C o m m i s s i o n a d o p t e d af t e r t h i s r u l i n g . Q w e s t h a d i t s o w n to a n o n - U N E ) th e A L J s ' r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o n M a r c h 3 0 , 2 0 0 7 . la n g u a g e i n t h e t e m p l a t e b e f o r e a n d af t e r t h i s r u l i n g . Q w e s t r e l i e s o n i t s Es c h e l o n p r o v i d e d e v i d e n c e s h o w i n g t h a t Q w e s t h a s PC A T f o r s o m e o f t h e s e t e r m s . im p l e m e n t e d s e v e r a l " T R R O " r e l a t e d c h a n g e s ( i n c l u d i n g t h i s on e ) w i t h o u t g o i n g t h o u g h C M P , w i t h o u t n e g o t i a t i n g t h e ch a n g e s i n I C A n e g o t i a t i o n s , a n d w i t h o u t f i r s t u p d a t i n g i t s II Q w e s t ' s o w n C M P m i n u t e s s h o w t h a t o n J u n e 3 0 , 2 0 0 5 Q w e s t c o m m i t t e d i n C M P , " . . . a s S G A T l a n g u a g e c h a n g e s , w e w i l l h a v e a c o m m e n t p e r i o d a n d t h a t th e S t a t e s w i l l e n g a g e y o u w h e n d e c i s i o n s a r e m a d e . C i n d y a l s o s a i d t h a t P C A T c h a n g e s w i l l b e b r o u g h t t h r o u g h C M P . Q w e s t - E s c h e l o n M N I C A a r b i t r a t i o n , Qw e s t E x h i b i t R A - 2 6 , p p . 4 - 5 ; s e e a l s o S t a k e y ( E s c h e l o n ) M N S u r e b u t t l , p p . 3 2 - 3 3 . 11 TH E I S S U E H E R E I S N O T WH E T H E R Q W E S T M U S T A D D A R I T R A T E D T E R M S T O I T S P R O P O S A L . T H E I S S U E I S , I F QW E S T R E P R E S E N T S T H A T I T S N E G O T I A T I O N S P R O P O S A L ( " T E M P L A T E " ) R E F L E C T S A R B I T R A T E D R E S U L T S (W H I C H M A Y L E A D C L E C S A N D C O M M I S S I O N S T O B E L I E V E T H A T I T D O E S ) , W H E T H E R Q W E S T ' S T E M P L A T E I N FA C T R E F L E C T S C O M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N D E C I S I O N S . EX H I B I T 1 EV I D E N C E C O N T R A Y T O Q W E S T ' S C L A I M T H A T T H E Q W E S T N E G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E " R E F L E C T S CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N S B E T W E E N Q W E S T A N D A T & T , C O V A D , E S C H E L O N A N D O T H E R S , , 1 IS S U E 2 CO M M I S S I O N D E C I S I O N , O R N E G O T I A T E D R E S U L T NE G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E ~ - AF T E R A R B I T R A T I O N C O M M E N C E D DO E S I T R E F L E C T CO M M I S S I O N A R I T R A T I O N ? SG A T , e v e n t h o u g h Q w e s t i n i t i a l l y s a i d i t w o u l d d o s o . ! ! Is s u e 9 - 4 6 ( B r i d g e d Th i s w a s a d i s p u t e d i s s u e a t t h e t i m e o f f i l i n g t h e a r b i t r a t i o n NO . D e s p i t e Q w e s t s a g r e e m e n t t o Ta p s ) ; S e c t i o n 9 . 2 . 2 . 9 . 6 pe t i t i o n . T h e p a r i e s c l o s e d t h i s l a n g u a g e a f t e r a r b i t r a t i o n cl o s e t h i s l a n g u a g e i n s i x s t a t e s , i t s co m m e n c e d , f o r s i x s t a t e s , i n c l u d i n g M N . te m p l a t e d o e s n o t i n c l u d e t h e a g r e e d up o n l a n g u a g e . Is s u e 9 - 5 0 ( C r o s s Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d t h e D O C ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . NO . Q w e s t s t e m p l a t e d o e s n o t Co n n e c t ) ; S e c t i o n Qw e s t d i d n o t f i e e x c e p t i o n s . in c l u d e t h e M N a r b i t r a t e d l a n g u a g e 9. 3 . 3 . 8 . 3 ; 1 . 7 . 3 or t h e a g r e e d u p o n l a n g u a g e f o r Qw e s t l a t e r a g r e e d t o c l o s e t h i s l a n g u a g e i n s e v e r a l o t h e r ot h e r s t a t e s . st a t e s . Is s u e 9 - 5 2 ( A c c e s s t o Th i s w a s a d i s p u t e d i s s u e a t t h e t i m e o f f i l i n g t h e a r b i t r a t i o n NO . D e s p i t e Q w e s t s a g r e e m e n t t o 91 1 d a t a b a s e s ) ; S e c t i o n pe t i t i o n . T h e p a r i e s c l o s e d t h i s l a n g u a g e a f t e r a r b i t r a t i o n cl o s e t h i s l a n g u a g e i n s i x s t a t e s , i t s 9. 8 . 1 co m m e n c e d , f o r s i x s t a t e s , i n c l u d i n g M N . te m p l a t e d o e s n o t i n c l u d e t h e a g r e e d up o n l a n g u a g e . Is s u e 9 - 5 3 ( U C C R E ) ; Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d t h e D O C ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . NO . R e g a r d i n g t h e c h a r g e s f o r Se c t i o n s 1 . 7 . 3 & 9 . 9 Qw e s t d i d n o t f i l e e x c e p t i o n s . UC C R E , s e e a b o v e . Q w e s t s te m p l a t e d o e s n o t i n c l u d e t h e UC C R E o r p h a s e o u t l a n g u a g e ad o p t e d b y t h e M N P U C , e v e n th o u g h i t w a s a d o p t e d i n a r b i t r a t i o n in M N a n d e v e n t h o u g h t h e U C C R E te r m s s t i l a p p e a r i n t h e S G A T f o r MN a n d t h e Q w e s t s P C A T f o r a l l 12 TH E I S S U E H E R E I S N O T WH E T H E R Q W E S T M U S T A D D A R B I T R A T E D T E R M S T O I T S P R O P O S A L . T H E I S S U E I S , I F QW E S T R E P R E S E N T S TH A T I T S N E G O T I A T I O N S P R O P O S A L ( " T E M P L A T E " ) R E F L E C T S A R I T R A T E D R E S U L T S (W H I C H M A Y L E A D C L E C S A N D C O M M I S S I O N S T O B E L I E V E T H A T I T D O E S ) , W H E T H E R Q W E S T ' S T E M P L A T E I N FA C T R E F L E C T S C O M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N D E C I S I O N S . EX H I B I T 1 EV I D E N C E C O N T R A Y T O Q W E S T ' S C L A I M T H A T T H E Q W E S T N E G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E " R E F L E C T S CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N S B E T W E E N Q W E S T A N D A T & T , C O V A D , E S C H E L O N A N D O T H E R S , , 1 IS S U E l CO M M I S S I O N D E C I S I O N , O R N E G O T I A T E D R E S U L T NE G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E 3 - AF T E R A R B I T R A T I O N C O M M E N C E D DO E S I T R E F L E C T CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N ? st a t e s , a n d e v e n t h o u g h Q w e s t h a s no t i n v o k e d t h e p h a s e o u t p r o c e s s or d e r e d b y t h e M N P U C . Is s u e 9 - 5 4 ( D i f f e r e n t Th i s w a s a d i s p u t e d i s s u e a t t h e t i m e o f f i i n g t h e a r b i t r a t i o n NO . D e s p i t e Q w e s t ' s a g r e e m e n t t o UN E C o m b i n a t i o n s ) ; pe t i t i o n . T h e p a r i e s c l o s e d t h s l a n g u a g e a f t e r a r b i t r a t i o n cl o s e t h i s l a n g u a g e i n s i x s t a t e s , i t s Se c t i o n s 9 . 2 3 . 2 ( 1 o f 2 co m m e n c e d , f o r s i x s t a t e s , i n c l u d i n g M N . te m p l a t e d o e s n o t i n c l u d e t h e a g r e e d is s u e s ) , 9 . 2 3 . 5 . 1 . 3 up o n l a n g u a g e . Is s u e 9 - 5 5 ( L o o p - Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d t h e Q w e s t s p o s i t i o n o n s o m e o f t h i s Wi t h r e s p e c t t o t h e t e r i n o l o g y , Tr a n s p o r t is s u e ( t e r m i n o l o g y ) o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . E s c h e l o n f i l e d e x c e p t i o n s . Qw e s t s t e m p l a t e d i d n o t c h a n g e a s Co m b i n a t i o n s ) ; S e c t i o n On t h e p a r a g r a p h i n i s s u e , Q w e s t a n d E s c h e l o n a g r e e d t o a r e s u l t o f t h i s o r d e r . W i t h r e s p e c t 9. 2 3 . 4 la n g u a g e . to t h e p a r a g r a p h t o w h i c h t h e p a r i e s ag r e e d t o c l o s e t h e i s s u e , Q w e s t s te m p l a t e d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h a t pa r a g r a p h . Is s u e 9 - 5 6 ( S e r i c e Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d Q w e s t s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . Th e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e d i d n o t c h a n g e El i g i b i l i t y C r i t e r a Es c h e l o n d i d n o t f i l e e x c e p t i o n s . af t e r t h i s r u l i n g . Q w e s t h a d i t s o w n Au d i t s ) ; S e c t i o n la n g u a g e i n t h e t e m p l a t e b e f o r e a n d 9. 2 3 . 4 . 3 . 1 . 1 af t e r t h i s r u l i n g . Is s u e s 9 - 5 8 a n d 9 - 5 9 Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d o p e n i n g o f a g e n e r i c d o c k e t , w i t h u s e Th e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e d i d n o t c h a n g e (C o m m i n g l e d of Q w e s t l a n g u a g e i n t h e m e a n t i m e . T h e C o m m i s s i o n a d o p t e d af t e r t h i s r u l i n g . Q w e s t h a d i t s o w n Ar a n g e m e n t s ) th e A L J s ' r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o n M a r c h 3 0 , 2 0 0 7 . la n g u a g e i n t h e t e m p l a t e b e f o r e a n d 13 TH E I S S U E H E R E I S N O T WH E T H E R Q W E S T M U S T A D D A R B I T R A T E D T E R M S T O I T S P R O P O S A L . T H E I S S U E I S , I F QW E S T R E P R E S E N T S TH A T I T S N E G O T I A T I O N S P R O P O S A L ( " T E M P L A T E " ) R E F L E C T S A R B I T R A T E D R E S U L T S (W H I C H M A Y L E A D C L E C S A N D C O M M I S S I O N S T O B E L I E V E T H A T I T D O E S ) , W H E T H E R Q W E S T ' S T E M P L A T E I N FA C T R E F L E C T S C O M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N D E C I S I O N S . EX H I B I T 1 EV I D E N C E C O N T R A Y T O Q W E S T ' S C L A I M T H A T T H E Q W E S T N E G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E " R E F L E C T S CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N S B E T W E E N Q W E S T A N D A T & T , C O V A D , E S C H E L O N A N D O T H E R S , , 1 IS S U E z CO M M I S S I O N D E C I S I O N , O R N E G O T I A T E D R E S U L T NE G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E " - AF T E R A R I T R A T I O N C O M M E N C E D DO E S I T R E F L E C T CO M M I S S I O N A R I T R A T I O N ? af t e r t h i s r u l i n g . Q w e s t r e l i e s o n i t s Es c h e l o n p r o v i d e d e v i d e n c e s h o w i n g t h a t Q w e s t h a s PC A T f o r s o m e o f t h e s e t e r s . im p l e m e n t e d s e v e r a l " T R R O " r e l a t e d c h a n g e s ( i n c l u d i n g t h i s on e ) w i t h o u t g o i n g t h r o u g h C M P , w i t h o u t n e g o t i a t i n g t h e ch a n g e s i n I C A n e g o t i a t i o n s , a n d w i t h o u t f i r s t u p d a t i n g i t s SG A T , e v e n t h o u g h Q w e s t i n i t i a l l y s a i d i t w o u l d d o S O . 1 2 Is s u e 9 - 6 1 ( L o o p - M u x Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d E s c h e l o n ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 , t h e NO . T h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e c o n t a i n s Co m b i n a t i o n s ) MN P U C a d o p t e d t h a t r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o n 3 / 3 0 / 0 7 , a n d Q w e s t st a t e - s p e c i f i c l a n g u a g e f o r s o m e di d n o t m o v e t o r e c o n s i d e r o n t h i s i s s u e . is s u e s , b u t i t d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h e la n g u a g e a d o p t e d b y t h e M N P U C fo r M N o n t h i s i s s u e . Is s u e 1 2 - 6 4 Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d E s c h e l o n ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 , t h e NO . T h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e c o n t a i n s (A c k n o w l e d g e m e n t o f MN P U C a d o p t e d t h a t r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o n 3 / 3 0 / 0 7 , a n d Q w e s t st a t e - s p e c i f i c l a n g u a g e f o r s o m e Mi s t a k e s ) ; S e c t i o n di d n o t m o v e t o r e c o n s i d e r o n t h i s i s s u e . is s u e s , b u t i t d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h e 12 . 1 . 4 la n g u a g e a d o p t e d b y t h e M N P U C Th e M N P U C r e j e c t e d Q w e s t s p o s i t i o n t h a t E s c h e l o n ' s fo r M N o n t h i s i s s u e . Q w e s t n o t pr o p o s e d l a n g u a g e e x p a n d e d t h e s c o p e o f o n e o f i t s e a r l i e r on l y h a s n o t a d d e d t h e l a n g u a g e ru l i n g s ( t h e M N 6 1 6 c a s e l 3 ) a n d s a i d i t s " c o n c e r n f o r t h e ad o p t e d i n M N f o r t h i s i s s u e t o i t s 12 S e e a b o v e f o o t n o t e q u o t i n g f r o m Q w e s t C M P m i n u t e s . 13 " M N 6 1 6 " r e f e r s t o t h e l a s t d i g i t s o f th e d o c k e t n u m b e r f o r t w o M i n n e s o t a P u b l i c U t i l i t i e s C o m m i s s i o n ( " P U C " ) o r d e r s d a t e d 7 / 3 1 / 0 3 a n d 1 1 / 1 2 / 0 3 f r o m t h e do c k e t e n t i t l e d I n T h e M a t t e r o f a R e q u e s t b y E s c h e l o n T e l e c o m f o r a n I n v e s t i g a t i o n R e g a r d i n g C u s t o m e r C o n v e r s i o n b y Q w e s t a n d R e g u l a t o r y P r o c e d u r e s (M i n e s o t a P U C D o c k e t P - 4 2 1 l C - 0 3 - 6 1 6 ( " M N 6 1 6 o r d e r s " ) ) . 14 TH E I S S U E H E R E I S N O T WH E T H E R Q W E S T M U S T A D D A R I T R A T E D T E R M S T O I T S P R O P O S A L . T H E I S S U E I S , I F QW E S T R E P R E S E N T S TH A T I T S N E G O T I A T I O N S P R O P O S A L ( " T E M P L A T E " ) R E F L E C T S A R B I T R A T E D R E S U L T S (W H I C H M A Y L E A D C L E C S A N D C O M M I S S I O N S T O B E L I E V E T H A T I T D O E S ) , W H E T H E R Q W E S T ' S T E M P L A T E I N FA C T R E F L E C T S C O M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N D E C I S I O N S . EX H I B I T 1 EV I D E N C E C O N T R A Y T O Q W E S T ' S C L A I M T H A T T H E Q W E S T N E G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E " R E F L E C T S CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N S B E T W E E N Q W E S T A N D A T & T , C O V A D , E S C H E L O N A N D O T H E R S , , 1 IS S U E 2 CO M M I S S I O N D E C I S I O N , O R N E G O T I A T E D R E S U L T NE G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E 3 - AF T E R A R B I T R A T I O N C O M M E N C E D DO E S I T R E F L E C T CO M M I S S I O N A R I T R A T I O N ? an t i co m p e t i t i v e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f s e r v i c e q u a l i t y l a p s e s h a s te m p l a t e b u t a l s o Q w e s t c o n t i n u e s t o ne v e r b e e n a s n a r r o w a s Q w e s t ' s l a n g u a g e w o u l d s u g g e s t . , , 1 4 ar g u e i n o t h e r s t a t e s t h a t t h e s a m e la n g u a g e " e x p a n d s Q w e s t s ob l i g a t i o n w e l l b e y o n d w h a t w a s or d e r e d i n M i n n e s o t a " i n t h e M N 61 6 c a s e Y MN 6 1 6 c a s e - Th e M N P U C o r d e r e d Q w e s t t o i m p l e m e n t " p r o c e d u r e s f o r Al t h o u g h I C A n e g o t i a t i o n s w o u l d b e Co m m i s s i o n ' s N o v . 1 2 , ma k i n g t h e a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t p r o c e s s r e a d i l y a c c e s s i b l e t o a m e a n s o f m a k i n g t h e s e p r o c e d u r e s 20 0 3 O r d e r F i n d i n g co m p e t i t i v e l o c a l e x c h a n g e c a r e r s , i n c l u d i n g p r o c e d u r e s f o r "r e a d i l y a c c e s s i b l e , " Q w e s t d o e s n o t Co m p l i a n c e F i l n g id e n t i f y i n g c l e a r l y t h e p e r s o n ( s ) t o w h o m r e q u e s t s f o r in c l u d e t h e s e a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t o f In a d e q u a t e a n d ac k n o w l e d g e m e n t s h o u l d b e d i r e c t e d . , , 1 6 mi s t a k e t e r m s i n i t s t e m p l a t e . T h e Re q u i r i n g F u r h e r te m p l a t e d o e s n o t a d d r e s s t h e Fi l i n g s ac k n o w l e d g m e n t o f m i s t a k e s pr o c e d u r e s o r d e r e d i n p a r a g r a p h s (e ) - ( l ) . T h e p r o c e d u r e s o r d e r e d i n th e s e p a r a g r a p h s a l s o d i d n o t g o th r o u g h C M P a n d d o n o t a p p e a r i n th e P C A T . 1 7 14 O r d e r R e s o l v i n g A r b i t r a t i o n I s s u e s ( M a r c h 3 0 , 2 0 0 7 ) , p . 1 5 ~ D ( T o p i c 2 7 ) ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) . I~ Q w e s t - E s c h e l o n I C A O r e g o n a r b i t r a t i o n , Q w e s t ( A l b e r s h e i m ) R e b u t t a l , p . 3 1 , l i n e s 1 1 - 1 5 ( M a y 2 5 , 2 0 0 7 ) . 16 I n T h e M a t t e r o f a R e q u e s t b y E s c h e l o n T e l e c o m f o r a n I n v e s t i g a t i o n R e g a r d i n g C u s t o m e r C o n v e r s i o n b y Q w e s t a n d R e g u l a t o r y P r o c e d u r e s ( M i n e s o t a P U C Do c k e t P - 4 2 1 l C - 0 3 - 6 1 6 , N o v . 1 2 , 2 0 0 3 ( " M N 6 1 6 o r d e r " ) ) , p . 4 , i ¡ . 17 S e e , e . g . , Q w e s t - E s c h e l o n M N I C A a r b i t r a t i o n , Q w e s t ( A l b e r s h e i m ) M N R e p l y T e s t i m o n y , p . 4 0 , l i n e s 5 - 9 . 15 TH E I S S U E H E R E I S N O T WH E T H E R Q W E S T M U S T A D D A R I T R A T E D T E R M S T O I T S P R O P O S A L . T H E I S S U E I S , I F QW E S T R E P R E S E N T S T H A T I T S N E G O T I A T I O N S P R O P O S A L ( " T E M P L A T E " ) R E F L E C T S A R I T R A T E D R E S U L T S (W H I C H M A Y L E A D C L E C S A N D C O M M I S S I O N S T O B E L I E V E T H A T I T D O E S ) , W H E T H E R Q W E S T ' S T E M P L A T E I N FA C T R E F L E C T S C O M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N D E C I S I O N S . EX H I B I T 1 EV I D E N C E C O N T R A Y T O Q W E S T ' S C L A I M T H A T T H E Q W E S T N E G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E " R E F L E C T S CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N S B E T W E E N Q W E S T A N D A T & T , C O V A D , E S C H E L O N A N D O T H E R S , , 1 IS S U E 2 CO M M I S S I O N D E C I S I O N , O R N E G O T I A T E D R E S U L T NE G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E j - AF E R A R B I T R A T I O N C O M M E N C E D DO E S I T R E F L E C T CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N ? Is s u e 1 2 - 6 5 Th i s w a s a d i s p u t e d i s s u e a t t h e t i m e o f f i l i n g t h e a r b i t r a t i o n NO . D e s p i t e Q w e s t s a g r e e m e n t t o (C o m m u n i c a t i o n s w i t h pe t i t i o n . T h e p a r i e s c l o s e d t h i s l a n g u a g e a f t e r a r b i t r a t i o n cl o s e t h i s l a n g u a g e i n s i x s t a t e s , i t s CL E C C u s t o m e r s ) ; co m m e n c e d , f o r s i x s t a t e s , i n c l u d i n g M N . te m p l a t e d o e s n o t i n c l u d e t h e a g r e e d Se c t i o n 1 2 . 1 . 5 . 4 . 7 up o n l a n g u a g e . Is s u e 1 2 - 6 6 Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d E s c h e l o n ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . NO . D e s p i t e t h e a r b i t r a t e d d e c i s i o n (C o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h Qw e s t d i d n o t f i l e e x c e p t i o n s . in M N a n d a n a g r e e m e n t o n t h e s e CL E C C u s t o m e r s ) ; se c t i o n s f o r a l l s i x s t a t e s , Q w e s t s Se c t i o n 1 2 . 1 . 5 . 5 Af t e r t h e A L J s ' r u l i n g , Q w e s t a g r e e d t o c l o s e t h i s i s s u e w i t h te m p l a t e d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h a t Es c h e l o n ' s l a n g ; a g e i n s i x s t a t e s . la n g u a g e f o r a n y s t a t e . Is s u e 1 2 - 6 7 ( E x p e d i t e d Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d E s c h e l o n ' s p r o p o s a l ( i n c l u d i n g a n NO . S e e a b o v e r e g a r d i n g t h e Or d e r s ) ; S e c t i o n in t e r i m r a t e o f $ 1 0 0 p e r o r d e r ) , e x c e p t f o r a s i n g l e s u b - p o i n t o n ex p e d i t e c h a r g e . S e c t i o n 9 . 1 . 1 2 o f 12 . 2 . 1 . 2 di s c r i m i n a t i o n , o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 , t h e M N P U C a d o p t e d t h a t th e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e ( l i k e i t s p r o p o s a l re c o m m e n d a t i o n o n 3 / 3 0 / 0 7 , a n d Q w e s t d i d n o t m o v e t o in t h e Q w e s t - E s c h e l o n M N re c o n s i d e r o n t h i s i s s u e . ar b i t r a t i o n ) d e f e r s t o C M P v i a i t s re f e r e n c e t o t h e P C A T : " T h e r e q u e s t Th e M N A L J s f o u n d ( ~ 2 1 9 ) : " T h e C M P p r o c e s s b y w h i c h fo r a n e x p e d i t e w i l b e a l l o w e d o n l y Qw e s t r e a c h e d i t s c u r r e n t p o s i t i o n i s n o t t h e c o n t r o l l n g f a c t o r wh e n t h e r e q u e s t m e e t s t h e c r i t e r i a on w h e t h e r e m e r g e n c y s i t u a t i o n s s h o u l d c r e a t e a n e x c e p t i o n t o ou t l i n e d i n t h e P r e - A p p r o v e d ch a r g i n g a n a d d i t i o n a l f e e f o r e x p e d i t e d o r d e r i n g . " Ex p e d i t e P r o c e s s i n Q w e s t s P r o d u c t 16 TH E I S S U E H E R E I S N O T WH E T H E R Q W E S T M U S T A D D A R I T R A T E D T E R M S T O I T S P R O P O S A L . T H E I S S U E I S , I F QW E S T R E P R E S E N T S TH A T I T S N E G O T I A T I O N S P R O P O S A L ( " T E M P L A T E " ) R E F L E C T S A R B I T R A T E D R E S U L T S (W H I C H M A Y L E A D C L E C S A N D C O M M I S S I O N S T O B E L I E V E T H A T I T D O E S ) , W H E T H E R Q W E S T ' S T E M P L A T E I N FA C T R E F L E C T S C O M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N D E C I S I O N S . EX H I B I T 1 EV I D E N C E C O N T R A Y T O Q W E S T ' S C L A I M T H A T T H E Q W E S T N E G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E " R E F L E C T S CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N S B E T W E E N Q W E S T A N D A T & T , C O V A D , E S C H E L O N A N D O T H E R S , , 1 IS S U E z CO M M I S S I O N D E C I S I O N , O R N E G O T I A T E D R E S U L T NE G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E 3 - AF T E R A R I T R A T I O N C O M M E N C E D DO E S I T R E F L E C T CO M M I S S I O N A R I T R A T I O N ? Ca t a l o g f o r e x p e d i t e s a t Q w e s t s Th e M N A L J s f o u n d ( i r 2 2 ) : " E s c h e l o n h a s p r o v i d e d wh o l e s a l e w e b s i t e . , , 1 8 co n v i n c i n g e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e C M P p r o c e s s d o e s n o t al w a y s p r o v i d e C L E C s w i t h a d e q u a t e p r o t e c t i o n f r o m Qw e s t m a k i n g i m p o r t a n t u n i l a t e r a l c h a n g e s i n t h e te r m s a n d c o n d i t i o n s o f i n t e r c o n n e c t i o n . " Is s u e 1 2 - 7 0 ( P e n d i n g Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d E s c h e l o n ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . NO . D e s p i t e t h e a r b i t r a t e d d e c i s i o n Se r v i c e O r d e r Qw e s t d i d n o t f i l e e x c e p t i o n s . in M N a n d a n a g r e e m e n t o n t h e s e No t i f i c a t i o n s - P S O N s ) ; se c t i o n s f o r a l l s i x s t a t e s , Q w e s t s Se c t i o n 1 2 . 2 . 7 . 2 . 3 Af t e r t h e A L J s ' r u l i n g , Q w e s t a g r e e d t o c l o s e t h i s i s s u e w i t h te m p l a t e d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h a t Es c h e l o n ' s l a n g u a g e i n s i x s t a t e s . la n g u a g e f o r a n y s t a t e . Is s u e s 1 2 - 7 1 - 1 2 - 7 3 Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d Q w e s t s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . NO . T h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e c o n t a i n s (J e o p a r d i e s ) ; S e c t i o n Es c h e l o n f i l e d m o d i f i e d l a n g u a g e i n i t s e x c e p t i o n s . O n st a t e - s p e c i f i c l a n g u a g e f o r s o m e 12 . 2 . 7 . 2 . 4 . 4 3/ 3 0 / 0 7 , t h e M N P U C a d o p t e d E s c h e l o n ' s m o d i f i e d l a n g u a g e . is s u e s , b u t i t d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h e Qw e s t m o v e d f o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n . T h e P U C d e n i e d Q w e s t ' s la n g u a g e a d o p t e d b y t h e M N P U C mo t i o n o n J u n e 4 , 2 0 0 7 . fo r M N o n t h i s i s s u e . Is s u e 1 2 - 7 4 ( F a t a l Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d E s c h e l o n ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . NO . D e s p i t e t h e a r b i t r a t e d d e c i s i o n 18 D e s p i t e t h e M N A L J s f i n d i n g s ( a d o p t e d b y t h e M N P U C ) i n i i 2 1 9 a n d 2 2 ( q u o t e d a b o v e ) , Q w e s t t a e s t h e p o s i t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e c o m p l i a n c e f i i n g t h e t h a t Co m m s s i o n h a s a d o p t e d t h i s s a m e s e n t e n c e , e v e n t h o u g h i t r e l i e s u p o n P C A T t e r m s t h a t Q w e s t a n o u n c e d i n C M P a s t h e c o n t r o l l n g f a c t o r a s t o w h e t h e r em e r g e n c y s i t u a t i o n s c r e a t e a n e x c e p t i o n t o c h a r g i n g a n a d d i t i o n a l f e e f o r e x p e d i t e d o r d e r i g . 17 TH E I S S U E H E R E I S N O T WH E T H E R Q W E S T M U S T A D D A R B I T R A T E D T E R M S T O I T S P R O P O S A L . T H E I S S U E I S , I F QW E S T R E P R E S E N T S T H A T I T S N E G O T I A T I O N S P R O P O S A L ( " T E M P L A T E " ) R E F L E C T S A R B I T R A T E D R E S U L T S (W H I C H M A Y L E A D C L E C S A N D C O M M I S S I O N S T O B E L I E V E T H A T I T D O E S ) , W H E T H E R Q W E S T ' S T E M P L A T E I N FA C T R E F L E C T S C O M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N D E C I S I O N S . EX H I B I T 1 EV I D E N C E C O N T R A Y T O Q W E S T ' S C L A I M T H A T T H E Q W E S T N E G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E " R E F L E C T S CO M M I S S I O N A R I T R A T I O N S B E T W E E N Q W E S T A N D A T & T , C O V A D , E S C H E L O N A N D O T H E R S , , 1 IS S U E - z CO M M I S S I O N D E C I S I O N , O R N E G O T I A T E D R E S U L T NE G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E 3 - AF T E R A R B I T R A T I O N C O M M E N C E D DO E S I T R E F L E C T CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N ? Re j e c t i o n N o t i c e s ) ; Qw e s t d i d n o t f i l e e x c e p t i o n s . in M N a n d a n a g r e e m e n t o n t h e s e Se c t i o n 1 2 . 2 . 7 . 2 . 6 . 1 se c t i o n s f o r a l l s i x s t a t e s , Q w e s t s Af t e r t h e A L J s ' r u l i n g , Q w e s t a g r e e d t o c l o s e t h i s i s s u e w i t h te m p l a t e d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h a t Es c h e l o n ' s l a n g u a g e i n s i x s t a t e s . la n g u a g e f o r a n y s t a t e . Is s u e 1 2 - 7 5 ( T a g a t Th i s w a s a d i s p u t e d i s s u e a t t h e t i m e o f f i l i n g t h e a r b i t r a t i o n NO . D e s p i t e Q w e s t s a g r e e m e n t t o De m a r c a t i o n P o i n t ) ; pe t i t i o n . T h e p a r i e s c l o s e d t h i s l a n g u a g e a f t e r a r b i t r a t i o n cl o s e t h i s l a n g u a g e i n s i x s t a t e s , i t s Se c t i o n 1 2 . 3 . 1 , 1 2 . 4 . 3 . 6 co m m e n c e d , f o r s i x s t a t e s , i n c l u d i n g M N . te m p l a t e d o e s n o t i n c l u d e t h e a g r e e d up o n l a n g u a g e . Is s u e 1 2 - 7 6 ( L o s s a n d Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d E s c h e l o n ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . NO . D e s p i t e t h e a r b i t r a t e d d e c i s i o n Co m p l e t i o n R e p o r t s ) ; Qw e s t d i d n o t f i l e e x c e p t i o n s . in M N a n d a n a g r e e m e n t o n t h e s e Se c t i o n 1 2 . 3 . 7 . 1 . 1 se c t i o n s f o r a l l s i x s t a t e s , Q w e s t s Af t e r t h e A L J s ' r u l i n g , Q w e s t a g r e e d t o c l o s e t h i s i s s u e w i t h te m p l a t e d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h a t Es c h e l o n ' s l a n g u g e i n s i x s t a t e s . la n g u a g e f o r a n y s t a t e . Is s u e 1 2 - 7 7 ( T e s t i n g Th i s w a s a d i s p u t e d i s s u e a t t h e t i m e o f f i l i n g t h e a r b i t r a t i o n NO . D e s p i t e Q w e s t s a g r e e m e n t t o Ch a r g e s W h e n C i r c u i t i s pe t i t i o n . T h e p a r t i e s c l o s e d t h s l a n g u a g e a f t e r a r b i t r a t i o n cl o s e t h i s l a n g u a g e i n s i x s t a t e s , i t s on P a i r G a i n ) ; S e c t i o n co m m e n c e d , f o r s i x s t a t e s , i n c l u d i n g M N . te m p l a t e d o e s n o t i n c l u d e t h e a g r e e d 12 . 4 . 1 . 5 . 1 up o n l a n g u a g e . Is s u e s 1 2 - 7 8 a n d 1 2 - 8 0 Th e s e w e r e d i s p u t e d i s s u e s a t t h e t i m e o f f i l i n g t h e a r b i t r a t i o n NO . Q w e s t s t e m p l a t e d o e s n o t (C h a r g e s f o r R e p e a t pe t i t i o n . T h e p a r i e s c l o s e d t h i s l a n g u a g e a f t e r a r b i t r a t i o n in c l u d e e i t h e r t h e E s c h e l o n l a n g u a g e Tr o u b l e s - T r o u b l e co m m e n c e d f o r s i x s t a t e s , i n c l u d i n g M N . cl o s e d a f t e r a r b i t r a t i o n c o m m e n c e d Re p o r t D e f i n i t i o n a n d Es c h e l o n ' s p r o p o s e d l a n g u a g e f o r w a s s i m i l a r t o Q w e s t - C o v a d or t h e C o v a d l a n g u a g e . T h i s Tr o u b l e I s o l a t i o n IC A l a n g u a g e . pr o v i s i o n a l l o w s E s c h e l o n o r C o v a d Te s t i n g ) ; I C A S e c t i o n s to c h a r g e Q w e s t i n c e r t a i n 18 TH E I S S U E H E R E I S N O T WH E T H E R Q W E S T M U S T A D D A R I T R A T E D T E R M S T O I T S P R O P O S A L . T H E I S S U E I S , I F QW E S T R E P R E S E N T S TH A T I T S N E G O T I A T I O N S P R O P O S A L ( " T E M P L A T E " ) R E F L E C T S A R B I T R A T E D R E S U L T S (W H I C H M A Y L E A D C L E C S A N D C O M M I S S I O N S T O B E L I E V E T H A T I T D O E S ) , W H E T H E R Q W E S T ' S T E M P L A T E I N FA C T R E F L E C T S C O M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N D E C I S I O N S . EX H I B I T 1 EV I D E N C E C O N T R A Y T O Q W E S T ' S C L A I M T H A T T H E Q W E S T N E G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E " R E F L E C T S CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N S B E T W E E N Q W E S T A N D A T & T , C O V A D , E S C H E L O N A N D O T H E R S , , 1 IS S U E 2 CO M M I S S I O N D E C I S I O N , O R N E G O T I A T E D R E S U L T NE G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E 3 - AF T E R A R B I T R A T I O N C O M M E N C E D DO E S I T R E F L E C T CO M M I S S I O N A R I T R A T I O N ? 12 . 4 . 1 . 7 , 1 2 . 4 . 1 . 8 ci r c u m s t a n c e s , b u t Q w e s t i s n o t of f e r n g t h i s l a n g u a g e t o o t h e r CL E C s i n i t s t e m p l a t e . Is s u e 1 2 - 8 1 ( T e s t Th i s w a s a d i s p u t e d i s s u e a t t h e t i m e o f f i l i n g t h e a r b i t r a t i o n NO . D e s p i t e Q w e s t s a g r e e m e n t t o Pa r a m e t e r s ) ; S e c t i o n pe t i t i o n . T h e p a r i e s c l o s e d t h i s l a n g u a g e a f t e r a r b i t r a t i o n cl o s e t h i s l a n g u a g e i n s i x s t a t e s , i t s 12 . 4 . 3 . 5 co m m e n c e d f o r s i x s t a t e s , i n c l u d i n g M N . te m p l a t e d o e s n o t i n c l u d e t h e a g r e e d up o n l a n g u a g e . Is s u e 1 2 - 8 3 ( D i s p a t c h Th i s w a s a d i s p u t e d i s s u e a t t h e t i m e o f f i l i n g t h e a r b i t r a t i o n NO . D e s p i t e Q w e s t s a g r e e m e n t t o Re l a t e d c h a r g e s ) ; pe t i t i o n . T h e p a r i e s c l o s e d t h i s l a n g u a g e a f t e r a r b i t r a t i o n cl o s e t h i s l a n g u a g e i n s i x s t a t e s , i t s Se c t i o n 1 2 . 4 . 3 . 6 . 1 co m m e n c e d , f o r s i x s t a t e s , i n c l u d i n g M N . te m p l a t e d o e s n o t i n c l u d e t h e a g r e e d up o n l a n g u a g e . I n Q w e s t ' s te m p l a t e , Q w e s t i n c l u d e s l a n g u a g e al l o w i n g Q w e s t t o b i l C L E C w h e n Qw e s t d e t e r m i n e s i t b e l i e v e s t h e di s p a t c h i s n o t n e c e s s a r ( w h i c h w a s re m o v e d i n t h e Q w e s t - E s c h e l o n IC A ) b u t o m i t s l a n g u a g e i n t h i s se c t i o n i n d i c a t i n g t h a t Q w e s t w i l on l y c h a r g e f o r a d i s p a t c h i f i t di s p a t c h e s a n d t h e t r o u b l e i s n o t fo u n d t o b e i n t h e Q w e s t n e t w o r k (w h i c h i s i n c l u d e d i n t h e Q w e s t - Es c h e l o n I C A ) . 19 TH E I S S U E H E R E I S N O T WH E T H E R Q W E S T M U S T A D D A R I T R A T E D T E R M S T O I T S P R O P O S A L . T H E I S S U E I S , I F QW E S T R E P R E S E N T S TH A T I T S N E G O T I A T I O N S P R O P O S A L ( " T E M P L A T E " ) R E F L E C T S A R I T R A T E D R E S U L T S (W H I C H M A Y L E A D C L E C S A N D C O M M I S S I O N S T O B E L I E V E T H A T I T D O E S ) , W H E T H E R Q W E S T ' S T E M P L A T E I N FA C T R E F L E C T S C O M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N D E C I S I O N S . EX H I B I T 1 EV I D E N C E C O N T R A Y T O Q W E S T ' S C L A I M T H A T T H E Q W E S T N E G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E " R E F L E C T S CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N S B E T W E E N Q W E S T A N D A T & T , C O V A D , E S C H E L O N A N D O T H E R S , , 1 IS S U E ~ CO M M I S S I O N D E C I S I O N , O R N E G O T I A T E D R E S U L T NE G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E 3 - AF T E R A R B I T R A T I O N C O M M E N C E D DO E S I T R E F L E C T CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N ? Is s u e 1 2 - 8 6 ( T r o u b l e Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d E s c h e l o n ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . NO . D e s p i t e t h e a r b i t r a t e d d e c i s i o n Re p o r t C l o s u r e ) ; Qw e s t d i d n o t f i e e x c e p t i o n s . in M N a n d a n a g r e e m e n t o n t h e s e Se c t i o n s 1 2 . 4 . 4 . 1 ; se c t i o n s f o r a l l s i x s t a t e s , Q w e s t s 12 . 4 . 4 . 2 ; 1 2 . 4 . 4 . 3 Af t e r t h e A L J s ' r u l i n g , Q w e s t a g r e e d t o c l o s e t h i s i s s u e w i t h te m p l a t e d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h a t Es c h e l o n ' s l a n g u a g e i n s i x s t a t e s . la n g u a g e f o r a n y s t a t e . Is s u e 1 2 - 8 7 ( C o n t r o l l e d Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d E s c h e l o n ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 , t h e NO . T h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e c o n t a i n s Pr o d u c t i o n ) ; S e c t i o n MN P U C a d o p t e d t h a t r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o n 3 / 3 0 / 0 7 , a n d Q w e s t st a t e - s p e c i f i c l a n g u a g e f o r s o m e 12 . 6 . 9 . 4 di d n o t m o v e t o r e c o n s i d e r o n t h i s i s s u e . is s u e s , b u t i t d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h e la n g u a g e a d o p t e d b y t h e M N P U C fo r M N o n t h i s i s s u e . Is s u e 1 2 - 8 8 ( R a t e s i n Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d E s c h e l o n ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . NO . T h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e c o n t a i n s Ex h i b i t A) Qw e s t d i d n o t f i e e x c e p t i o n s . st a t e - s p e c i f i c l a n g u a g e f o r s o m e is s u e s , b u t i t d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h e la n g u a g e a d o p t e d b y t h e M N P U C fo r M N o n t h i s i s s u e . Is s u e 1 2 - 9 0 Th e A L J s r e c o m m e n d e d E s c h e l o n ' s p o s i t i o n o n 1 / 1 6 / 0 6 . NO . T h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e c o n t a i n s (U n a p p r o v e d R a t e s ) Qw e s t d i d n o t f i l e e x c e p t i o n s . st a t e - s p e c i f i c l a n g u a g e f o r s o m e is s u e s , b u t i t d o e s n o t c o n t a i n t h e la n g u a g e a d o p t e d b y t h e M N P U C fo r M N o n t h i s i s s u e . OT H E R E X A M P L E S 20 TH E I S S U E H E R E I S N O T WH E T H E R Q W E S T M U S T A D D A R B I T R A T E D T E R M S T O I T S P R O P O S A L . T H E I S S U E I S , I F QW E S T R E P R E S E N T S TH A T I T S N E G O T I A T I O N S P R O P O S A L ( " T E M P L A T E " ) R E F L E C T S A R I T R A T E D R E S U L T S (W H I C H M A Y L E A D C L E C S A N D C O M M I S S I O N S T O B E L I E V E T H A T I T D O E S ) , W H E T H E R Q W E S T ' S T E M P L A T E I N FA C T R E F L E C T S C O M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N D E C I S I O N S . EX H I B I T 1 EV I D E N C E C O N T R A Y T O Q W E S T ' S C L A I M T H A T T H E Q W E S T N E G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E " R E F L E C T S CO M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N S B E T W E E N Q W E S T A N D A T & T , C O V A D , E S C H E L O N A N D O T H E R S , , 1 IS S U E 2 CO M M I S S I O N D E C I S I O N , O R N E G O T I A T E D R E S U L T NE G O T I A T I O N S T E M P L A T E 3 - AF T E R A R I T R A T I O N C O M M E N C E D DO E S I T R E F L E C T CO M M I S S I O N A R I T R A T I O N ? Co v a d - Q w e s t I C A , Th e C o m m i s s i o n g r a n t e d 1 5 e x t r a d a y s t o r e v i e w b i l s w h e n NO . Q w e s t s t e m p l a t e p r o v i d e s f o r 3/ 1 4 / 0 5 M N a r b i t r a t i o n th e y l a c k a c i r c u i t I D , c h a n g i n g t h e p a y m e n t d u e f r o m 3 0 t o 4 5 30 d a y s i n a l l c a s e s , w i t h n o de c i s i o n - P a y m e n t , da y s i n t h o s e c a s e s . ex c e p t i o n l i k e t h e o n e o r d e r e d i n t h e Se c t i o n 5 . 4 1 Co v a d a r b i t r a t i o n AT & T - Q w e s t I C A , NO . Q w e s t s t e m p l a t e l a n g u a g e i s 11 / 1 8 / 0 3 M N a r b i t r a t i o n di f f e r e n t f r o m t h e a r b i t r a t e d Q w e s t - de c i s i o n - C h a n g e i n AT & T I C A M N l a n g u a g e f o r La w ( S e c t i o n 2 . 2 ) Se c t i o n 2 . 2 . A& T - Q w e s t I C A , AT & T a r b i t r a t e d t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f Ta n d e m O f f c e S w i t c h a n d , NO . T h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e d o e s n o t 11 / 1 8 / 0 3 M N a r b i t r a t i o n in M N ( a n d A Z ) , t h e C o m m i s s i o n s o r d e r e d a d e f i n i t i o n u s i n g ha v e a s t a t e - s p e c i f i c v e r s i o n f o r M N de c i s i o n - D e f i n i t i o n o f th e p h r a s e " c a p a b l e o f s e r v i n g . " or A Z . I t h a s a s i n g l e d e f i n i t i o n t h a t Ta n d e m O f f i c e S w i t c h do e s n o t u s e t h e t e r m " c a p a b l e o f in S e c t i o n 4 se r v i n g . " AT & T - Q w e s t I C A , AT & T a r b i t r a t e d d e c i s i o n a d o p t e d u s e o f " g r o s s n e g l i g e n c e " i n NO . T h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e d o e s n o t 11 / 1 8 / 0 3 M N a r b i t r a t i o n th e l i m i t a t i o n o f l i a b i l i t y p r o v i s i o n . us e " g r o s s n e g l i g e n c e " i n S e c t i o n de c i s i o n - S e c t i o n 5 . 8 . 4 5. 8 . 4 f o r a n y s t a t e . AT & T - Q w e s t I C A , Th e M N P U C s a i d : " L a n g u a g e a d d r e s s i n g h o w t o t r e a t NO . T h e Q w e s t t e m p l a t e d o e s n o t 11 / 1 8 / 0 3 M N a r b i t r a t i o n li a b i l t y f r o m i n t e l l e c t u a l p r o p e r t y v i o l a t i o n s a d d s c l a r t y , a n d in c l u d e t h i s i n t e l l e c t u a l p r o p e r t y de c i s i o n - S e c t i o n s wi l b e a p p r o v e d . " la n g u a g e i n S e c t i o n 5 . 9 f o r a n y s t a t e . 5. 9 . 1 . 1 , 5 . 9 . 1 . 2 21 TH E I S S U E H E R E I S N O T WH E T H E R Q W E S T M U S T A D D A R I T R A T E D T E R M S T O I T S P R O P O S A L . T H E I S S U E I S , I F QW E S T R E P R E S E N T S TH A T I T S N E G O T I A T I O N S P R O P O S A L ( " T E M P L A T E " ) R E F L E C T S A R I T R A T E D R E S U L T S (W H I C H M A Y L E A D C L E C S A N D C O M M I S S I O N S T O B E L I E V E T H A T I T D O E S ) , W H E T H E R Q W E S T ' S T E M P L A T E I N FA C T R E F L E C T S C O M M I S S I O N A R B I T R A T I O N D E C I S I O N S . Exhibit 2 Page 1 Qwest~C2 Spiri Of SeMelr Level of Change: November 15, 2006 November 16, 2006 PROS.11.15.06.F .04322.MultLangChangeforSGATs Process Notification CLECs, Resellers CMP - Getting Started as a CLEC V21 Getting Started as a Reseller V12 Interconnection Agreements V74 Interconnection Negotiations Process V12 Provisions Available for Opt In V12 New Customer Questionnaires V32 Level 1 Announcement Date: Effective Date: Document Number: Notification Category: Target Audience: Subject: Summary of Change: On November 16, 2006, Qwest will post updates to its Wholesale Product Catalog that include corrections, clarifications and additional information for Getting Started as a CLEC V21, Getting Started as a Reseller V12, Interconnection Agreements V14, Interconnection Negotiations Process V12, Provisions Available for Opt In V12, and New Customer Questionnaires V32. You wil find a redlined version ofthe changes on the Product/Process Document Review Archive at http://ww.gwest.com/wholesale/cmp/reviewarchive.html. Qwest is updating the mentioned documents to provide additional information and clarification that does not change the process. The references to the SGATs and Exhibits and applicable language changes are being made. The SGATs are no longer available to opt into and have been replaced with the Negotiations Template Agreement (NTA). Actual updates to the operational documents are found on the Qwest Wholesale Web Site at these URLs: http://ww.gwest.com/wholesale/clecs/clecindex.html http://ww.gwest.com/wholesale/clecs/resellerindex.html http://ww.gwest.com/wholesale/clecs/negotiations.html http://ww.gwest.com/wholesale/clecs/negotiationsprocess.html http://ww.gwest.com/wholesale/clecs/provisionoptin.html http://ww.gwest.com/wholesale/clecs/newcustguestionnaire.html Comment Cycle: No formal comment cycle applies. CLECs who feel the change( s) described in this Level 1 notification alter(s) CLEC operating procedures should immediately contact the Qwest CMP Manager, by e-mail.atcmpcr~gwest.com. Sincerely Exhibit 2 Page 2 Qwest Corporation Note: In cases of conflict between the changes implemented through this notification and any CLEC interconnection agreement (whether based on the Qwest SGAT or not), the rates, terms and conditions of such interconnection agreement shall prevail as between Qwest and the CLEC party to such interconnection agreement. The Qwest Wholesale Web Site provides a comprehensive catalog of detailed information on Qwest products and services including specific descriptions on doing business with Qwest. All information provided on the site describes current activities and process. Prior to any modifications to existing activities or processes described on the web site, wholesale customers will receive written notification announcing the upcoming change. If you would like to unsubscribe to mailouts please go to the "Subscribe/Unsubscribe" web site and follow the unsubscribe instructions. The site is located at: http://ww.qwest.com/wholesale/notices/cnla/maillist.html Exhibit 2 Page 3 Qwest:-2 Spirit ()f Service- November 15, 2006 Announcement Date: Effective Date: Document Number: Notification Category: Target Audience: Subject: November 16, 2006 PROS.11.15.06.F.04302.Amendments_SGATs Process Notification CLECs, Resellers, Amendments SGATs Summary of Change: On November 16, 2006 Owest wil post updates to its Wholesale Product Catalog that include new/revised documentation for Amendments and SGATs. This material becomes effective on November 16, 2006. Owest is updating the following documents to remove the SGATs, Exhibits and language that pertains to the SGATs. The title of the web page wil now become Negotiation Template Agreement. SGATs continue to be available as reference documents through the Ouick Links located on the right side of the Wholesale web page. Amendments: . New Products and Services section - removed SGAT language . New Products and Services Not in the Files SGATs title of section changed to Amendments for New Products and Services SGATs: . Title of document changed from SGATs (Wireline) to Negotiations Template Agreement (NTA) . Interconnection Business section removed including the Dropdown and documents for the 14 state SGAT and Exhibits. . Negotiations Template Agreement section - removed SGAT language . Exhibit B by state and Exhibit K by state sections are added to include these Exhibits. These have not changed and remain as last published on the SGAT Interconnection Business section of this same document. Only the location within the document has changed. . Resale Agreements and Exhibits - removed SGAT language and changed to NT A Redline SGAT documents are found at URL: http://ww.qwest.com/aboutlpolicy/sgats/ Actual updates are found on the Owest Wholesale Web site at the following URLs: Exhibit 2 Page 4 http://ww.gwest.com/wholesale/clecs/amendments.html http://ww.gwest.com/wholesale/clecs/sgatswireline.html Sincerely Qwest Corporation Note: In cases of conflict between the changes implemented through this notification and any GLEG interconnection agreement (whether based on the Qwest SGAT or n9t), the rates, terms and conditions of such interconnection agreement shall prevail as between Qwest and the GLEG party to such interconnection agreement. The Qwest Wholesale Web Site provides a comprehensive catalog of detailed information on Qwest products and services including specific descriptions on doing business with Qwest. All information provided on the site describes current activities and process. Prior to any modifications to existing activities or processes described on the web site, wholesale customers wil receive written notification announcing the upcoming change. If you would like to unsubscribe to mailouts please go to the "Subscribe/Unsubscribe" web site and follow the unsubscribe instructions. The site is located at: http://ww.qwest.com/wholesale/notices/cnla/mailist.html