951003.docx

VIA FACSIMILE
October 3, 1995
James E. Wozniak, Director Public Policy
U S WEST Communications
999 Main Street
Boise, ID  83702
Re:  USW Central Office Capacity
Dear Jim:
At the September 19 decision meeting, the Commission reviewed a formal complaint from Jack Terry regarding his inability to obtain local access service in the Weiser exchange.  U S WEST had allegedly indicated to Mr. Terry that the Weiser central office (CO) had no more capacity to serve customer lines and that he would have to wait for service until January 1996, when the Company’s planned upgrade of the Weiser CO is to occur.  It is also our understanding that another six residents were waiting for service and had been given the same response as Mr. Terry.  Although Mr. Terry and the others did receive temporary service, the Commission understands that a permanent solution would have to wait until the January upgrade.
Although Mr. Terry’s complaint appears to be temporarily resolved, the Commission is concerned about potential  switch exhaustion.  This concern arises because of the recent switch exhaustions reported in the Victor and Weiser wire centers and the Company’s annual report showing 37 wire centers in southern Idaho with over 90% of lines in use as a percent of installed capacity.  Please provide the following information with accompanying narrative to address the Commission’s concerns.
1.List all U S WEST wire centers in southern and northern Idaho indicating the current  switch type; installation date; designed line capacity; installed line capacity; lines in use as of June 30, 1995 or later; the percent of lines with “soft dial tone”; the next scheduled capacity upgrade date (if any); and the nature of the upgrade (e.g., two 100-line card additions).  Include the wire centers that are proposed for sale.
2.Indicate if the Company has standard “threshold” or “trigger” levels that cause a switch upgrade or replacement to be considered?  Please describe the process or procedures by which switch fill and capacity levels are monitored and recommendations are made for replacements or upgrades.  Follow the process through to actual budgeting and changeout/upgrade completion reports.  
Due to the urgency of this matter, please supply your responses to these questions by October 10, 1995.  Your written response should be submitted to the Commission Secretary.  If you have any questions, please call me.
Sincerely,
Donald L. Howell, II
Deputy Attorney General
DLH/vld/L-Woz
cc:Myrna Walters
Commissioners
Eileen Benner
Mary Hobson