990414vws.docx

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER HANSEN
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
MYRNA WALTERS
TONYA CLARK
DON HOWELL
STEPHANIE MILLER
JOE CUSICK
DAVID SCOTT
WORKING FILE
FROM:WELDON STUTZMAN
DATE:APRIL 14, 1999
RE:CASE NOS. USW-T-99-3 AND USW-T-99-4; APPLICATIONS FOR APPROVAL OF TWO INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENTS BETWEEN U S WEST AND COVAD COMMUNICATIONS AND U S WEST AND NEXTEL WEST CORPORATION
On February 4, 1999, a Joint Application was filed by U S WEST Communications and Covad Communications Company (Case No. USW-T-99-3) for approval of an interconnection agreement pursuant to Section 252(e) of the federal Telecommunications Act.  The interconnection agreement was arrived at through voluntary negotiations by the parties.  Covad is a competitive local exchange service provider and the interconnection agreement would enable Covad to provide services to customers within U S WEST’s territory.  On March 3, 1999, the Commission issued a Notice of Modified Procedure and Notice of Joint Application.  During the comment period, written comments were filed only by the Commission Staff.  Staff reviewed the interconnection agreement, noted that its terms are nearly identical of those reached through an arbitration by U S WEST and AT&T, and recommended that the Commission approve the interconnection agreement as filed.
On February 19, 1999, a Joint Application was filed by U S WEST and Nextel West Corporation, a commercial mobile radio service provider, for approval of a Type 2 wireless interconnection agreement (Case No. USW-T-99-4).  This agreement also was reached through voluntary negotiations and is submitted for approval pursuant to Section 252(e) of the Telecommunications Act.  On March 16, 1999, the Commission issued a Notice of Joint Application and Notice of Modified Procedure.  Written comments were filed only by the Commission Staff.  Staff reviewed the agreement and found its terms and conditions to be essentially the same as those contained in similar interconnec­tion agreements approved by the Commission for U S WEST.  Staff therefore recommended that the interconnection agreement be approved as filed.
Commission Decision
Should the interconnection agreement between U S WEST and Covad Communications Company, and the interconnection agreement between U S WEST and Nextel West Corporation, be approved?

Weldon Stutzman
vld/M:USW-T-99-3.ws2