27040.docx

(text box: 1)BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICA­TION OF U S WEST COMMUNICA­TIONS, INC.  FOR APPROVAL OF AN INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN U S WEST AND GST TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. PURSUANT TO 47 U.S.C. § 252(e).
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CASE NO. USW-T-97-9
                  GST-T-97-1
ORDER NO.  27040
On May 12, 1997, U S WEST Communications, Inc. (U S WEST) and GST Telecommunications, Inc. (GST) filed a Joint Application for approval of their interconnection agreement arrived at through voluntary negotiations.  The agreement consists of a Local Wireline Network Interconnection and Service Resale Agreement, No. SEA-970416-1601\C, and a Pole and Anchor Attachment and\or Innerduct Occupancy Agreement, No. SEA-070416-1602\G, and are submitted for approval pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 252(e) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the Act).  The Agreement was reached through voluntary negotiations following the filing of a Petition for Arbitration by GST on March 17, 1997. On May 29, 1997, the Commission issued a Notice of Application and Notice of Modified Procedure to process the Application.  The comment period established by the Notice terminated on June 19, 1997.  No comments were filed regarding the Application.
Under the terms of the Telecommunications Act, interconnection agreements must be submitted to the Commission for approval.  The Commission may reject an agreement adopted by negotiation only if it finds that the agreement discriminates against a telecommunications carrier not a party to the agreement or implementation of the agreement is not consistent with the public interest, convenience and necessity.  47 U.S.C. 252(2).  Regarding interconnection agreements for the transport and termination of traffic, Subsection 252(d) provides the standards for the terms and conditions of mutual and reciprocal compensation.
Staff has reviewed the final agreement between the parties to determine that it is consistent with the requirements of the Telecommunications Act and recommends approval of the agreement.  Based on the recommendation of the Staff, we find that the final agreement between U S WEST and GST should be approved.  
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Interconnection Agreement between U S WEST Communications, Inc. and GST Telecommunications, 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 these Case Nos. USW-T-97-9 and GST-T-97-1 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 these Case Nos. USW-T-97-9 and GST-T-97-1.  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 1997.
                                                                                                                                      DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT
                                                                                           RALPH NELSON, COMMISSIONER

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary
vld\O:uswt979.ws2
COMMENTS AND ANNOTATIONS
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Service Date
July 9, 1997