19961010Notice of Oral Argument - Prearbitration Conference.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF WESTERN WIRELESS CORPORATION PETITION FOR ARBITRATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 252(b) OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996 OF THE RATES, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS OF INTERCONNECTION WITH U S WEST.
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CASE NO. USWT9611
WST-T-96-1

NOTICE OF ORAL ARGUMENT

NOTICE OF PRE-ARBITRATION CONFERENCE

Western Wireless Corporation (Western Wireless) on September 6, 1996 filed a Petition for Arbitration with the Commission pursuant to Section 252 of the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Petition alleges that Western Wireless requested interconnection, services, or network elements with U S WEST Communications, Inc. (U S WEST) pursuant to Section 251 of the Act, that negotiations for an agreement have occurred, but that issues between the parties remain unresolved.
On October 1, 1996, U S WEST filed a response to the Petition, and also filed a Motion to Dismiss. The Motion to Dismiss asks the Commission to dismiss the first issue identified by Western Wireless for arbitration, i.e., the issue of the rates for interconnection.
The Commission has determined to hold a prearbitration conference on Tuesday, October 22, 1996, and to also receive oral argument on U S WESTs Motion at that time.

NOTICE OF ORAL ARGUMENT
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Commission will hear oral argument on U S WESTs Motion to Dismiss on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1996, AT 1:00 P.M. IN THE COMMISSION HEARING ROOM, 472 WEST WASHINGTON STREET, BOISE, IDAHO [phone].
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.

NOTICE OF PREARBITRATION CONFERENCE
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Commission, after reviewing the petition has determined to convene a prearbitration conference in this case for the purposes of formulating and simplifying the issues, to determine a schedule to complete the process of this case, or for any other purpose set forth in the Commissions Rule of Procedure 211. IDAPA 31.01.01.211.
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that a prearbitration conference is scheduled in this case for TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1996, following the Oral Argument noticed herein, IN THE HEARING ROOM OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, 472 WEST WASHINGTON STREET, BOISE, IDAHO (334-0300). During the prearbitration conference, the parties must be prepared to identify specific issues that have been resolved and that remain unresolved, to discuss the need and schedule for exchanging information, and to determine a schedule for providing information and prefiled testimony with the Commission.
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)

DATED at Boise, Idaho this day of October 1996.

Jean Jewell
Assistant Commission Secretary

bls/N-uswt9611.ws2

NOTICE OF ORAL ARGUMENT
NOTICE OF PREARBITRATION CONFERENCE -1-

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
October 10, 1996