970604.docx

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER HANSEN
COMMISSIONER NELSON
COMMISSIONER SMITH
MYRNA WALTERS
TONYA CLARK
DON HOWELL
STEPHANIE MILLER
JOE CUSICK
DAVE SCHUNKE
DAVID SCOTT
WORKING FILE
FROM:WELDON STUTZMAN
DATE:June 4, 1997
RE: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).
On April 23, 1997, U S WEST Communications, Inc. (U S WEST) filed an Application for approval of an Interconnection Agreement.  The Agreement provides for U S WEST and CommNet Cellular, Inc. (CommNet)  to interconnect their facilities and interchange traffic.  U S WEST’s Application states that the Agreement was reached through voluntary negotiations and is being 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 Application also states that its interconnection agreement with CommNet is identical to the interconnection agreement entered into between Western Wireless Services Corporation and U S WEST.  The Commission arbitrated and then approved the agreement between Western Wireless and U S WEST in Case Nos. WST-T-96-1; USW-T-96-11.
On May 9, 1997, the Commission issued a Notice of Application and Notice of Modified Procedure establishing a period for the filing of written comments through May 30, 1997.  Only the Commission Staff filed comments, in which Staff stated its belief “that the U S WEST/CommNet Agreement is in the public interest and should be approved”.
Commission Decision:
Should the wireless interconnection agreement between U S WEST and CommNet be approved?

Weldon B. Stutzman
cm\M:uswt9711.ws3