29080.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT APPLICATION
OF VERIZON NORTHWEST, INC. AND SPRINT
SPECTRUM L.P. FOR APPROVAL OF AN
AMENDMENT TO AN INTERCONNECTION
AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO 47 U.S.C. § 252(e). )
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CASE NO. GTE-T-97-6

IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT APPLICATION
OF VERIZON NORTHWEST, INC. AND 1-800-RECONEX, INC. FOR APPROVAL OF AN
AMENDMENT TO AN INTERCONNECTION
AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO 47 U.S.C. § 252(e).
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CASE NO. VZN-T-01-7
IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT APPLICATION
OF VERIZON NORTHWEST, INC. AND PACIFIC
BELL WIRELESS NORTHWEST, LLC DBA
CINGULAR WIRELESS FOR APPROVAL OF AN
INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT PURSUANT
TO 47 U.S.C. § 252(e).
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CASE NO. VZN-T-02-7

IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT APPLICATION
OF QWEST CORPORATION AND ELECTRIC
LIGHTWAVE, INC. FOR APPROVAL OF AN
AMENDMENT TO AN INTERCONNECTION
AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO 47 U.S.C. § 252(e). )
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CASE NO. USW-T-00-21

IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT APPLICATION
OF QWEST CORPORATION AND 1-800-
RECONEX, INC. FOR APPROVAL OF AN
AMENDMENT TO AN INTERCONNECTION
AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO 47 U.S.C. § 252(e).
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CASE NO. QWE-T-01-13

ORDER NO. 29080
In these cases the Commission is asked to approve amendments to previously approved interconnection agreements and a new interconnection agreement.
BACKGROUND
Under the provisions of the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, interconnection agreements must be submitted to the Commission for approval. 47 U.S.C. § 252(e)(1). The Commission may reject an agreement adopted by negotiations only if it finds that the agreement: (1) discriminates against telecommunications carrier not a party to the agreement; or (2) implementation of the agreement is not consistent with the public interest, convenience and necessity. 47 U.S.C. § 252(e)(2)(A). As the Commission recently noted in Order No. 28427, companies voluntarily entering into interconnection agreements “may negotiate terms, prices and conditions that do not comply with either the FCC rules or with the provisions with Section 251(b) or (c).” Order No. 28427 at 11 (emphasis original). This comports with the FCC’s statement that “a state commission shall have authority to approve an interconnection agreement adopted by negotiation even if the terms of the agreement do not comply with the requirements of [Part 51].” 47 C.F.R. § 51.3.
THE CURRENT APPLICATIONS
The Commission has been asked to approve a new interconnection agreement and four amendments to existing interconnection agreements. These matters are discussed in greater detail below.
Verizon Northwest, Inc. and Sprint Spectrum L.P. (Case No. GTE-T-97-6). This is an amendment to an existing wireless interconnection agreement implementing wireless 911/E-911 arrangements.
Verizon Northwest, Inc. and 1-800-Reconex, Inc. (Case No. VZN-T- 01-7). This Application involves an amendment implementing the Federal Communications Commission’s decision on reciprocal compensation (FCC 01-131).
Verizon Northwest, Inc. and Pacific Bell Wireless Northwest, LLC dba Cingular Wireless (Case No. VZN-T-02-7). This Application involves the adoption by Cingular Wireless of the agreement between Verizon Northwest and Nextel West Corp., which was originally approved by the Commission in Order 27920 in Case No. GTE-T-98-7.
Qwest and Electric Lightwave, Inc. (Case No. USW-T-00-21). This is an amendment to an existing interconnection agreement adding terms for dispute resolution, and reciprocal compensation and changing the term of the agreement.
5. Qwest and 1-800-Reconex, Inc. (Case No. QWE-T-01-13). This is an amendment to an existing wireline interconnection agreement adding terms for unbundled network elements and combinations of unbundled network elements.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
The Staff has reviewed these Applications and did not find any terms and conditions to be discriminatory or contrary to the public interest. Staff believes that the new agreement and amendments to interconnection agreements are consistent with the pro-competitive policies of this Commission, the Idaho Legislature, and the federal Telecommunications Act. Accordingly, Staff believes that the Applications merit the Commission’s approval.
COMMISSION DECISION
Under the terms of the Telecommunications Act, interconnection agreements must be submitted to the Commission for approval. 47 U.S.C. § 252 (e)(1). The Commission’s review is limited, however. The Commission may reject an agreement adopted by negotiation only if it finds that the agreement discriminates against a telecommunication carrier not a party to the agreement or implementation of the agreement is not consistent with the public interest, convenience and necessity. Id. Based upon our review of the Applications, the Staff’s recommendation and on the fact no other person commented on these Applications, the Commission finds that the new interconnection agreement and amendments to previously approved interconnection agreements are consistent with the public interest, convenience and necessity and do not discriminate. Therefore, the Commission finds that these Applications should be approved. However, approval of Applications does not negate the responsibility of any of the parties to these agreements to obtain a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity if they are offering local exchange services or complying with Idaho Code §§ 62-604 and 62-606 if they are providing other non-basic local telecommunications services as defined by Idaho Code § 62-603.
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the new interconnection agreement and amendments to previously approved interconnection agreements discussed above are approved. Terms of the agreements that are not already in effect shall be effective as of the date of this Order.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the amendment to the interconnection agreement between Verizon Northwest, Inc. and Sprint Spectrum L.P., Case No. GTE-T-97-6, is approved.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the amendment to an interconnection agreement between Verizon Northwest, Inc. and 1-800-Reconex, Inc., Case No. VZN-T-01-7, is approved.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the interconnection agreement between Verizon Northwest, Inc. and Pacific Bell Wireless Northwest, LLC dba Cingular Wireless, Case No. VZN-T-02-7, is approved.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the amendment to the interconnection agreement between Qwest Corporation and Electric Lightwave, Inc., Case No. USW-T-00-21, is approved.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the amendment to the interconnection agreement between Qwest Corporation and 1-800-Reconex, Inc., Case No. QWE-T-01-13, is approved.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER. Any person interested in this Order (or in issues finally decided by this Order) or in interlocutory Orders previously issued in these Case Nos. GTE-97-6, VZN-T-01-7, VZN-T-02-7, USW-T-00-21 and QWE-T-01-13 may petition for reconsideration within twenty-one (21) days of the service date of this Order with regard to any matter decided in this Order or in interlocutory Orders previously issued in these cases. Within seven (7) days after any person has petitioned for reconsideration, any other person may cross-petition for reconsideration. See Idaho Code §§ 61-626 and 62-619.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho, this
day of July 2002.

PAUL KJELLANDER, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

DENNIS S. HANSEN, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Jean D. Jewell
Commission Secretary

O:USWT9711_QWET007_0013_0127_021_jh

ORDER NO. 29080 1

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
July 30, 2002