28444.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT APPLICATION OF U S WEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS, INC. FOR APPROVAL OF AN INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO 47 U.S.C. § 252(e).
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CASE NO. USW-T-00-13

ORDER NO. 28444

On May 17, 2000, U S WEST Communications and Fairpoint Communications, Inc. filed an Application for approval of an interconnection agreement. The agreement is a wireline interconnection agreement reached through voluntary negotiations by the parties. The agreement provides for interconnection between the parties, the exchange of traffic, and provides access to Fairpoint to U S WEST’s facilities and unbundled network elements. The agreement is submitted for approval pursuant to Section 252(e)(1) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Section 252(e)(2) of the Act directs that a state Commission may reject an agreement reached through voluntary negotiations only if the Commission finds that
(i) the agreement (or portions thereof) discriminates against a telecommunications
carrier not a party to the agreement; or

(ii) the implementation of such agreement or portion is not consistent with the public
interest, convenience and necessity.

The parties assert that the agreement does not discriminate against other telecommunication carriers and that it is consistent with the public interest, convenience and necessity.
On, June 5, 2000 the Commission issued a Notice of Joint Petition and Notice of Modified Procedure to process the petition. Only the Commission Staff filed comments, recommending approval of the interconnection agreement. Staff reviewed the agreement between the parties to determine that it is consistent with the requirements of the Telecommunications Act.
Based on our review of the record, including the recommendation of the Staff, we find that the interconnection agreement between U S WEST and Fairpoint Communications, Inc. should be approved.

O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the interconnection agreement between U S WEST and Fairpoint Communications, Inc. 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. USWT0013 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. USW-T-00-13. 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 July 2000.

DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

PAUL KJELLANDER, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary

vld/O:USW-T-00-13_ws2

ORDER NO. 28444 1

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
July 18, 2000