26586.docx

(text box: 1)BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF U S WEST COMMUNICA­TIONS, INC.’S TARIFF ADVICE NO. 96-7-N FOR AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT A NEW CABLE, WIRE AND SERVICE DEMARCATION POLICY.
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CASE NO. USW-T-96-9
ORDER NO.  26586
On August 1, 1996, U S WEST Communica­tions, Inc. filed Tariff Advice No. 96-7-N to implement a new cable, wire and service demarcation policy.  More specifically, the Company proposes new conditions for terminating facilities in buildings, multi-tenant or campus arrangements.  Instead of providing a single point of demarcation in new buildings or campus arrangements, the Tariff Advice would allow the Company to “extend service terminations to terminal rooms, to utility closets, or to within 12 inches of entering each individually occupied space/unit or as close as practical.”  The Company states that this Tariff Advice is part of a filing that has been or will be made in each of the 14 states U S WEST serves.  The Company requests that the Tariff Advice become effective September 1, 1996.
After reviewing the Tariff Advice, we find that: The tariff is of sufficient importance and complexity to require the Commission’s investigation into the reasonableness of the proposed policy.  Given the issues raised in this Tariff Advice as they relate to the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 and because of the previously scheduled demands upon the Commission’s time, we will be unable to fully consider this Tariff Advice before September 1, 1996.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
The Commission has jurisdiction over this matter and the services and rates provided by U S WEST Communications in its northern Idaho service territory by virtue of our authority contained in Idaho Code, Title 61.
Pursuant to Idaho Code § 61-622, the Commission has authority to suspend the services in Tariff Advice No. 96-7-N for a period of thirty (30) days plus five (5) months from the proposed effective date of September 1, 1996.
It is necessary to suspend the effective date of this Tariff Advice so that the Commission may consider and determine the issues presented in this tariff.
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the proposed services described in Tariff Advice No. 96-7-N shall be suspended for a period of thirty (30) days plus five (5) months from September 1, 1996, or until such time as the Commission may issue an Order accepting or rejecting or modifying the Tariff Advice.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this                  day of August 1996.

RALPH NELSON, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

DENNIS S. HANSEN, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:

Jean Jewell
Assistant Commission Secretary
vld/O:USW-T-96-9.dh
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Service Date
August 30, 1996