19980821.docx

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER HANSEN
COMMISSIONER NELSON
COMMISSIONER SMITH
MYRNA WALTERS
TONYA CLARK
DON HOWELL
STEPHANIE MILLER
DAVE SCHUNKE
RITA SCOTT
DAVID SCOTT
WAYNE HART
WORKING FILE
FROM:WELDON STUTZMAN
DATE:AUGUST 21, 1998
RE:CASE NOS. USW-T-98-11 and USW-T-98-12
APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENTS BY U S WEST AND CLARK COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
On August 17, 1998, two Joint Applications were filed by U S WEST Communications and Clark Communications Inc. requesting approval of  interconnection agreements.  The agreements were reached through voluntary negotiations and are submitted for approval pursuant to Section 252(e) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.  One agreement (USW-T-98-11) is for interconnection with a Type 1 paging company, while the other (USW-T-98-12) is  for interconnection with a Type 2 wireless company.
Staff recommends that the Joint Applications for approval of these interconnection agreements be processed by Modified Procedure, pursuant to the Commission’s Rules of Procedure 201-204.  Staff also recommends, because the agreements are similar and are between the same parties, that the cases be joined so that the Commission need issue a single Notice and Order.
Commission Decision:
Should the Joint Applications of U S WEST and Clark Communications, Inc for approval of two interconnection agreements be processed by Modified Procedure?
Should the two cases be joined?

Weldon Stutzman
cm\M:uswt9811.ws