26994.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 WITH COMMNET CELLULAR, INC. PURSUANT TO 47 U.S.C. § 252(e).
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CASE NO. USW-T-97-11

ORDER NO.  26994
On April 23, 1997, U S WEST Communications, Inc. filed an Application for approval of an interconnection agreement that provides for U S WEST and CommNet Cellular, Inc.  (CommNet) to interconnect their facilities and interchange traffic.  The agreement was reached through voluntary negotiations and was submitted for approval pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 252 (e) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.  On May 9, 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 May 30, 1997.  Written comments were filed only by the Commission Staff, which recommended approval of the agreement.
Under the terms of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Act), interconnection agreements must be submitted to the Commission for approval.  The Commission may reject an agreement adopted by arbitration only if it finds that the agreement does not meet the requirements of Section 251 of the Act or the standards set forth in subsection (d) of Section 252.  Regarding interconnection agreements for the transport and termination of traffic, subsection (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 record in this case, we find that the final agreement between U S WEST and CommNet should be approved.  
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Wireless Interconnection Agreement between U S WEST Communications, Inc. and CommNet Cellular, 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 No. USW-T-97-11 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 No. USW-T-97-11.  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 June 1997.
                                                                                                                                      DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT
                                                                                           RALPH NELSON, COMMISSIONER

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary
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Service Date
June 13, 1997