20190726Decision Memo.pdf

RE
DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER RAPER
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON
COMMISSION SECRETARY
LEGAL
WORKING FILE
FROM: CAROLEE HALL
DATE: JULY 25,2019
INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN TDS METROCOM,
LLC (..METROCOM") AND FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS
NORTHWf,ST INC. (.,FRONTIER"). CASE NO. TML-T-19-02.
BACKGROUND
Under the provision of the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, interconnection
agreements must be submitted to the Commission for approval. 47 U.S.C. $ 252(e)(l). The
Commission may reject an agreement adopted by negotiations only if it finds that the agreement:
(1) discriminates against a telecommunications carrier not a party to the agreement; or
(2) implementation of the agreement is not consistent wilh the public interest, convenience and
necessity. 47 U.S.C. $ 252(eX2)(A). As the Commission noted in Order No.28427, companies
voluntarily entering into interconnection agreements "may negotiate terms, prices and conditions
that do not cornply with either the FCC rules or with the provision of Section 251 (b) or (c)."
Order No.28427 at 1 I (emphasis in original). This comports with the FCC's statement that "a
state commission shall have authority to approve an interconnection agreement adopted by
negotiation even if the terms of the agreement do not cornply with the requirements of [Part 5 I ]."
47 C.F.R. $ 5l.3.
CURRENT APPLICATION
On July 15,2019, Metrocom and Frontier subrnitted their original Interconnection
Agreement between the parties. This agreement sets out rates, terms, and conditions for:
o Additional Services
o Interconnection
r Traffic Exchange
DECISION MEMORANDUM JULY 25,2019
. Resale Attachment
o Network Elements
o Collocation
o 9-l-l
r Element Pricing
STAFF ANALYSIS
Staff has reviewed the agreement between Metrocom and Frontier, and finds it
compatible with federal and state guidelines. Moreover, Staff believes that this filing is
consistent with the pro-competitive policies of this Commission, the Idaho Legislature, and the
federal Telecommunications Act of 1996. Accordingly, Staff recommends approval.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission agree?
Hall
i:udmemos/ inlerconnection agreenrents/TML-T-19-02 TDS Metrocom and Frontier Comnrunications Northtlest, lnc.
DECISION MEMORANDUM a-L-JULY 25,2019
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