USWT0014.WSW.doc

WELDON B. STUTZMAN
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
PO BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074
[phone]
IDAHO BAR NO. 3283

Street Address for Express Mail:
472 W WASHINGTON
BOISE ID 83702-5983

Attorney for the Commission Staff

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT APPLICATION OF U S WEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND GST TELECOM IDAHO, INC. FOR APPROVAL OF AN INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO 47 U.S.C. § 252(e).
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CASE NO. USW-T-00-14

COMMENTS OF THE
COMMISSION STAFF

COMES NOW the Staff of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, by and through its Attorney of record, Weldon B. Stutzman, Deputy Attorney General, and in response to the Notice of Joint Application for Approval of Interconnection Agreement and Notice of Modified Procedure issued in Order No. 28393 on June 5, 2000, submits the following comments.

On May 26, 2000, U S WEST Communications, Inc. and GST Telecom Idaho, Inc. (GST), a competitive provider of telecommunication services, filed a Joint Application requesting approval of an interconnection agreement. The Joint Application states that the Agreement was reached through voluntary negotiations without resort to mediation or arbitration and is submitted for approval pursuant to Section 252(e) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Companies claim the Agreement is not discriminatory against any other company, and that it is consistent with the public interest, convenience and necessity. They request the Commission approve the Agreement without a hearing or intervention by other parties.
Staff reviewed the language of this Agreement and did not find any terms or conditions that Staff would consider discriminatory. The rates and terms are very similar to those contained in other interconnection agreements submitted by US WEST and previously approved by this Commission. Staff concurs with the Companies claim that the Agreement is consistent with the pro-competitive policies of the Commission, the Idaho Legislature, and the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and therefore is consistent with the public interest.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Commission approve this Agreement as filed.

DATED at Boise, Idaho, this ______ day of June, 2000.

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Weldon B. Stutzman
Deputy Attorney General

Technical Staff: Wayne Hart

WS:WH:va:word:u:umisc/comments/uswt0014.WSw.doc

COMMENTS OF THE
COMMISSION STAFF 2 JUNE 26, 2000