971230.docx

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER HANSEN
COMMISSIONER NELSON
COMMISSIONER SMITH
MYRNA WALTERS
TONYA CLARK
DON HOWELL
STEPHANIE MILLER
DAVE SCHUNKE
JOE CUSICK
BILL EASTLAKE
DAVID SCOTT
WORKING FILE
FROM:WELDON STUTZMAN
DATE:DECEMBER 30, 1997
RE:CASE NOS.  USW-T-97-20 AND ELI-T-97-1; JOINT APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN U S WEST AND ELECTRIC LIGHTWAVE.
On November 17, 1997, U S WEST Communications (U S WEST) and Electric Lightwave, Inc.  (ELI) filed a Joint Application for approval of an interconnection agreement arrived at through voluntary negotiations.  The agreement provides for the terms, conditions and prices for network interconnection, access to unbundled network elements, and resale of services by ELI, and is submitted for approval pursuant to 47 U.S.C. Section 252(e) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
On November 28, 1997, the Commission issued a Notice of Joint Petition and Notice of Modified Procedure.  Only the Commission Staff filed comments during the comment period.  Staff noted that the agreement is nearly identical to the interconnection agreement between U S WEST and GST Telecom, which was previously approved by the Commission in July 1997.  Staff recommends approval of the interconnection agreement between U S WEST and ELI.
Commission Decision
Should the interconnection agreement between U S WEST and Electric Lightwave be approved?

Weldon Stutzman
vld/M:USW-T-97-20.ws