WILSON.docx

April 30, 1997
Barbara Wilson
Idaho Vice President
U S WEST Communications, Inc.
999 Main Street
Boise, ID 83702
RE: U S WEST Monitoring Reports of Customer Payment Centers in Idaho
Dear Ms. Wilson:
In 1990 the Commission initiated an investigation in response to a proposal by U S WEST to close some of its payment centers in Idaho.  By Order No. 23179 issued by the Commission in June 1990, U S WEST was authorized to consolidate its payment centers on certain conditions.  One of the conditions was that a monitoring plan be devised “that will enable the Commission to determine that no degradation in the quality of services performed by payment centers occurs, and to provide meaningful data and information that will permit the Commission to make a meaningful evaluation of the respective levels of service and customer satisfaction associated with payment centers as compared to payment agencies.”  Order No. 23179 at p. 3.  A monitoring plan was filed with the Commission that went into effect on September 1, 1990, requiring U S WEST to collect daily information regarding the various types of transactions in the customer payment centers in Pocatello and Boise.  
In an order issued in March 1991, the Commission granted U S WEST’s motion to discontinue the in-depth tracking called for in the monitoring plan, but required U S WEST to continue to supply monthly reports reflecting gross numbers of payments accepted at the customer payment centers and payment agencies.  Order No. 23596 also required U S WEST, in the event it desired to close a customer payment center, to re-institute all of the requirements of the monitoring plan as originally submitted and approved.  Pursuant to Order No. 23596, U S WEST has continued to file the summary monthly reports to the Commission.
In a decision meeting on April 7, 1997, the Commission Staff proposed to the Commission that the monthly monitoring reports be discontinued so long as the contingency as provided in Order No. 23596 remains in place, i.e., if U S WEST determines to close a payment center, all of the requirements of the monitoring plan as originally submitted must be undertaken by the Company.  This would include re-implementing the data collection procedures for a period of six months, conducting a customer survey and submitting reports to the Commission.  The Commission agreed with the Staff recommendation.  Accordingly, it no longer is necessary for U S WEST to continue providing the monthly reports to the Commission.  However, should U S WEST determine to close any payment center, the terms of Order No. 23596 requiring re-implementation of the monitoring plan remain in force and effect.
Please contact me if you have any questions.  
Sincerely,
Weldon B. Stutzman
Deputy Attorney General
WBS/vld:L:Wilson.ws