19970307v2.docx

March 7, 1997
TO: Parties of Record
RE: Hearing Procedures and Protocol for the U S WEST Rate Case, Case No.  USW-S-96-5
Commissioner Smith has asked me to advise the parties of the hearing proceedings and protocol for the U S WEST rate case to begin March 10, 1997.  Except for those witnesses needing to appear at a specified time, the presentation of witnesses and evidence will be as follows:
U S WEST’s direct case (seven witnesses);
The direct and surrebuttal evidence of intervenors AARP and AT&T (five witnesses);
Staff direct and rebuttal case (ten witnesses); and
U S WEST’s rebuttal case (fifteen witnesses).
The order of U S WEST’s direct witnesses is: Wilson, Elder, Wright, Easton, Cummings, Owen, and Wozniak.
The parties have made several arrangements to present specific witnesses on certain days.  In particular, AT&T’s witness Dr. Bell will be presented Friday afternoon, March 14.  On Monday, March 17, Staff witness Faunce and Company rebuttal witnesses Barrington and Gobat will be presented.  Given the alleged proprietary nature of evidence presented by Faunce and Barrington, the Commission intends to convene a closed hearing to take proprietary evidence and to seal the cross-examination record of Faunce and Barrington.  On Wednesday, March 19, Idaho Citizens Coalition will present Dr. Powers and the Staff will present Dr. Selwyn and Baldwin.
As indicated in Order No. 26824 issued March 4, 1997, the Commission intends to recess the first  part of the hearing on or before Thursday, March 20 and reconvene the hearing on Tuesday, March 25.  In addition, the parties are also advised that the Commission intends to recess at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, March 10 so that the Commission can appear before a legislative committee.  The Commission also intends to recess early for lunch on Tuesday, March 11 at 11:00 a.m. to perform other Commission functions.  The time for reconvening on Tuesday, March 11 will be announced at the time of the lunch recess.
Should you have any questions about the hearing schedule, please contact me at [phone].  
Sincerely,
Donald L.  Howell, II
Deputy Attorney General
DLH/vld:L:usws965.dh3