960624.docx

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER NELSON
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER HANSEN
MYRNA WALTERS
TONYA CLARK
DON HOWELL
STEPHANIE MILLER
DAVID SCHUNKE
EILEEN BENNER
JOE CUSICK
GARY RICHARDSON
WORKING FILE
FROM:WELDON STUTZMAN
DATE:JUNE 24, 1996
RE:CASE NO. USW-N-96-1
U S WEST COMMUNICATIONS’ TARIFF ADVICE NO. 96-01-N
On February 5, 1996, U S WEST Communications, Inc. (U S WEST) filed Tariff Advice No. 96-01-N (Case No. USW-N-96-1) restricting the availability of its Centron and Centraflex System 2 services in northern Idaho to customers of record as of March 11, 1996.  Tariff Advice No. 96-01-N was filed by U S WEST at the same time it filed Tariff Advice No. 96-03-SC (Case No. USW-S-96-1) to restrict a similar service in the southern Idaho portion of its service territory.  The Commission thereafter received a formal complaint from MCI Telecommunications (MCI) and AT&T Communications, Inc. (AT&T) alleging that the withdrawal of Centron and Centraflex System 2 services prevents the complainants from competing in the local exchange market by preventing the resale of the services by MCI and AT&T.
The Commission issued a Summons to U S WEST directing it to file an answer to the complaints, which the Company filed on March 22, 1996.  On March 1, 1996, the Commission issued Order No. 26335 suspending the proposed effective date of Tariff Advice No. 96-01-N.   The Commission also convened a prehearing conference on April 9, 1996.  However, the parties were unable to resolve their differences at the prehearing conference.
The Commission has adopted a schedule, including a hearing date, to process the complaints regarding U S WEST’s withdrawal of Centron in southern Idaho.  Because U S WEST’s service in northern Idaho is fully regulated, and there seems to be little actual interest in the service in northern Idaho, Staff recommends that Tariff Advice No. 96-01-N be processed by modified procedure.  During the comment period, the parties can inform the Commission whether a formal hearing is necessary to consider any complaints against withdrawal of Centron and Centraflex System 2 in northern Idaho.
Commission Decision
Should Tariff Advice No. 96-01-N be processed by Modified Procedure?

Weldon B. Stutzman
bls/M-uswn961.ws