980716.docx

MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER HANSEN
COMMISSIONER NELSON
COMMISSIONER SMITH
STEPHANIE MILLER
JOE CUSICK
FROM:WELDON STUTZMAN
DATE:JULY 16, 1998
RE:ASSISTANCE OF LIBERTY CONSULTING GROUP IN U S WEST’S SECTION 271 CASE
John Antonuk of Liberty Consulting Group recently provided information regarding their possible assistance to the Staff in the upcoming U S WEST Section 271 case.  Liberty could assist in any or all aspects of the case, including by providing written and oral testimony for a hearing.  Given the complexity of the case, Staff believes it would be very beneficial for Liberty to assist on at least some issues, for example, like evaluating competitors’ access to U S WEST’s operating support system.  
Attached to this memorandum are three pages from a memo we received from John regarding Liberty’s possible assistance.  The attached pages provide a description of Liberty’s proposed assistance and projected costs.  John estimates that Liberty’s full involvement in a single case would cost approximately $54,600, but that economies are achieved if two or more states retain Liberty’s services.  In that case, John’s estimated budget is $26,000 to $35,000 per state.
In order to enable Liberty to coordinate schedules with other states, and thus maximize cost-effectiveness, the Commission should determine soon whether Liberty should be retained to assist Staff and the Commission with the Section 271 case.
Weldon Stutzman
vld/M:sect271.ws