27263.docx

(text box: 1)BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF
U S WEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC.  FOR APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT FOR SERVICE RESALE PURSUANT TO 47 U.S.C. § 252(e).
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CASE NO.  TLI-T-97-2

ORDER NO.  27263
On October 24, 1997, U S WEST filed an Application for approval of an interconnection agreement with Tel-Link, LLC.  The agreement results from voluntary negotiations by the parties and was submitted for approval by the Commission pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 252(e) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.  The agreement provides for Tel-Link to enter the local exchange market in Idaho through the resale of U S WEST’s services.
On October 31, 1997, the Commission issued a Notice of Petition and Notice of Modified Procedure to process the Application.  Comments were filed during the comment period only by the Commission Staff.  Staff noted that the agreement is the same as the standard resale agreement offered by U S WEST to companies seeking to provide competitive local exchange service.  Staff recommended approval of the agreement.
Under the terms of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Act), interconnection agreements must be submitted to the Commission for approval.  The Commission may reject an agreement adopted by negotiation only if it finds that the agreement discriminates against a telecommunication carrier not a party to the agreement or implementation of the agreement is not consistent with the public interest, convenience and necessity.  
Staff reviewed the final agreement between the parties to determine that it is consistent with the requirements of the Telecommunications Act and recommended approval of the agreement.  Based on the recommendation of the Staff, we find that the final agreement between U S WEST and Tel-Link should be approved.  
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Interconnection Agreement between U S WEST Communication, Inc. and Tel-Link, LLC is approved.  Terms of the agreement that are not already in effect shall be effective as of the date of this Order.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER.  Any person interested in this Order (or in issues finally decided by this Order) or in interlocutory Orders previously issued in this Case No.  TLI-T-97-2 may petition for reconsideration within twenty-one (21) days of the service date of this Order with regard to any matter decided in this Order or in interlocutory Orders previously issued in this Case No.  TLI-T-97-2.  Within seven (7) days after any person has petitioned for reconsideration, any other person may cross-petition for reconsideration.  See Idaho Code § 61-626.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this                  day of December 1997.
                                                                                                                                      DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT
                                                                                           RALPH NELSON, COMMISSIONER

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary
vld\O:tlit972.ws2
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Service Date
December 17, 1997