28153.noh.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF U S WEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC. FOR DEREGULATION OF BASIC LOCAL EXCHANGE RATES IN ITS BURLEY, IDAHO EXCHANGE. )
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) CASE NO. USW-T-99-15

NOTICE OF PREHEARING CONFERENCE

NOTICE OF HEARING

ORDER NO. 28153

On July 23, 1999, U S WEST Communications, Inc. (U S WEST) filed its Application in this case pursuant to Idaho Code § 62-622(3) seeking deregulation of its basic local exchange rates in its Burley, Idaho exchange. Section 62-622(3) provides for the Commission to cease regulating local exchange rates in a local exchange calling area upon a showing by an incumbent telephone corporation that effective competition exists for basic local exchange service throughout the local calling area. The statute states that effective competition exists throughout a local exchange calling area when either
(a) actual competition from a facilities based competitor is present for both residential and small business basic local exchange customers; or

(b) there are functionally equivalent, competitively priced local exchange services reasonably available to both residential and small business customers from a telephone corporation unaffiliated with the incumbent telephone corporation.

On July 30, 1999, the Commission issued a Notice of Application and Notice of Right to Intervene. Petitions to intervene have been filed by Idahoans for a Competitive Edge in Telecommunications, Inc.; AT&T Communications of the Mountain States, Inc.; GST Telecom Idaho, Inc.; Electric Lightwave, Inc.; The Idaho Telephone Association; Century Telephone of the Gem State; Century Telephone of Idaho; Potlatch Telephone Company; and Troy Telephone Company. The Commission has granted each of the petitions to intervene.
In order to process the Application, the Commission has determined to adopt the following procedural schedule:
Prehearing Conference October 12, 1999 Filing of Direct Testimony by
Staff and Intervenors
November 19, 1999 Filing of Rebuttal Testimony by
U S WEST
December 17, 1999 Technical Hearing January 13, 2000

NOTICE OF PREHEARING CONFERENCE
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Commission will convene a prehearing conference in this matter on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1999 AT 10:30 A.M. IN THE COMMISSION HEARING ROOM, 472 W. WASHINGTON, BOISE, ID. Pursuant to Rule 211 of the Commission’s Rules of Procedure, the purposes of the prehearing conference include formulating or simplifying the issues, obtaining concessions of fact or identification of documents to avoid unnecessary proof, scheduling discovery, arranging for the exchange of proposed exhibits or prepared testimony, limiting witness, scheduling hearings, establishing procedures for the hearings, discussing settlement offers or making settlement offers, and addressing other matters that may expedite orderly conduct and disposition of the proceeding.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all parties wishing to participate in the prehearing conference by telephone may submit a written request to the Commission Secretary, Idaho Public Utilities Commission, PO Box 83720, Boise, Idaho 83720-0074, no later than two working days prior to the date set for the prehearing conference. Parties making such a request will be informally notified prior to the prehearing conference whether their request has been granted by the Commission.

NOTICE OF HEARING
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Commission will convene a technical hearing in this matter on THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2000 AT 9:30 A.M. IN THE COMMISSION’S HEARING ROOM, 472 W. WASHINGTON, BOISE, IDAHO.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all hearings and prehearing conferences in this matter will be held in facilities meeting the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Persons needing the help of a sign language interpreter or other assistance of the kind that the Commission is obligated to provide under the Americans with Disabilities Act in order to participate in or to understand the testimony and argument at a public hearing may ask the Commission to provide a sign language interpreter or other assistance at the hearing. The request for assistance must be received at least five (5) working days before the hearing by contacting the Commission Secretary at:
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
PO BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074
[phone] (TELEPHONE)
[phone] (TEXT TELEPHONE)
[phone] (FAX)

YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this case will be held pursuant to the Commissions jurisdiction under Title 61 of the Idaho Code and that the Commission may enter any final order consistent with its authority under Title 61.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this matter will be conducted pursuant to the Commissions Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.000 et seq.

O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Commission adopts the proceeding schedule for the purpose of processing the Application in this case.

DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho, this
day of September 1999.

DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

PAUL KJELLANDER, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary

bls/O:uswt9915_ws

NOTICE OF PREHEARING CONFERENCE
NOTICE OF HEARING
ORDER NO. 28153 1

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
September 17, 1999