20020830Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER HANSEN
JEAN JEWELL
DON HOWELL
JOHN HAMMOND
RANDY LOBB
JOE CUSICK
CAROLEE HALL
DOUG COOLEY
BIRDELLE BROWN
RON LAW
TONYA CLARK
GENE FADNESS
WORKING FILE
FROM:WAYNE HART
DATE:AUGUST 30,2002
RE:STAFF REVIEW OF INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENTS AND
AMENDMENTS:CASE NOS.SPR-T-01-1,USW-T-99-23,QWE-T-02-13,
QWE-T-02-15,VZN-T-02-9.
BACKGROUND
Under the provisions of the federal TelecommunicationsAct of 1996,interconnection
agreements must be submitted to the Commission for approval.47 U.S.C.§252(e)(l).The
Commission may reject an agreement adopted by negotiations only if it finds that the agreement:
(1)discriminates against telecommunicationscarrier 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).
THE CURRENT APPLICATIONS
1.Qwest and Sprint Communications Company,L.P.(Case No.SPR-T-01-1).This is
an amendment to an existing wireline interconnection agreement adding terms for unbundled
network element combinations.
DECISION MEMORANDUM 1 AUGUST 30,2002
2.Qwest and New Edge Networks.(Case No.USW-T-99-23).This Application
involves an amendment to an existing agreement adding terms for the conversion of private lines to
unbundled loops.
3.Qwest and Big Sky Telecom,Inc.(Case No.QWE-T-02-13).This Application is
for a new agreement based upon Qwest's Statement of Generally Available Terms (SGAT).This
agreement is based upon the current SGAT,which includes the new,lower,rates proposed by
Qwest in its 271 filing.
4.Owest and Now Communications,Inc.(Case No.QWE-T-02-15).This Application
is for a new wireline agreement,and includes terms and conditions similar to those in previously
approved agreements.
5.Verizon and Sprint Communications Company,L.P.(Case No.VZN-T-02-9).This
is a new wireline interconnection agreement.It includes terms and conditions similar to previously
approved agreements.
STAFF ANALYSIS
Staff has reviewed these Applications and did not find any terms and conditions that it
considers to be discriminatory or contrary to the public interest.With the exception of the
Qwest/Big Sky agreement,all contain terms and conditions that are similar to those contained in
previouslyapproved amendments or agreements.
The Qwest/Big Sky agreement is the first agreement presented to the Commission that
includes the reduced rates proposed by Qwest in its Application for 271 approval.The Commission
has not thoroughlyreviewed these rates and only views them as interim rates.There remains an
open cost docket in Case No.QWE-T-01-11 to examine these rates.Staff does not necessarily
object to the rates in this agreement,but recommends that any Commission approval of an
agreement includingthese interim rates also include language that clarifies that approval of the
agreement does not imply the Commission has adequatelyreviewed the rates and has not verified
that the interim rates meet TELRIC standards.
Staff believes that the Agreements and Amendments are consistent with the pro-competitive
policies of this Commission,the Idaho Legislature,and the federal Telecommunications Act.
Accordingly,Staff believes that the Agreements and Amendments to previouslyapproved
interconnection agreements merit the Commission's approval.
DECISION MEMORANDUM 2 AUGUST 30,2002
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission approve the Applications for Approval of the Interconnection
Agreements and Amendments listed above?
If so,does the Commission wish to include limitinglanguage as recommended by Staff in
its approval of the Qwest/Big Sky agreement.
Wayne H
WH:i:udmemos/int dm 8 30 02
DECISION MEMORANDUM 3 AUGUST 30,2002