19970121Order No 26773.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
WSTT961

ORDER NO. 26773

On January 8, 1997, the Commission received a Wireless Interconnection Agreement between U S WEST Communications, Inc. (U S WEST) and Western Wireless Corporation (Western) for approval. The agreement between the parties was finalized following the conclusion of an arbitration by the Commission of disputed issues. The Commission issued its arbitration decision on December 26, 1996 to resolve certain terms for the agreement between U S WEST and Western.
Under the terms of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Act), interconnection agreements must be submitted to the Commission for approval. The Commission may reject an agreement adopted by arbitration only if it finds that the agreement does not meet the requirements of Section 251 of the Act or the standards set forth in subsection (d) of Section 252. Regarding interconnection agreements for the transport and termination of traffic, subsection (d) provides the standards for the terms and conditions of mutual and reciprocal compensation. These standards are the same that guided the Commissions resolution of the disputed issues in its arbitration decision.
Staff has reviewed the final agreement between the parties to determine that it is consistent with the arbitration decision issued by the Commission and the requirements of the Telecommunications Act. Based on the recommendation of the Staff, we find that the final agreement between U S WEST and Western should be approved.

O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Wireless Interconnection Agreement between U S WEST Communication, Inc. and Western Wireless Corporation is approved. Terms of the agreement that are not already in effect shall be effective as of the date of this Order.
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. USWT9611/WSTT961 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 Case Nos. USWT9611/WSTT961. Within seven (7) days after any person has petitioned for reconsideration, any other person may cross-petition for reconsideration. See Idaho Code  61626.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this day of January 1997.

RALPH NELSON, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

DENNIS S. HANSEN, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary

cm\O:uswt9611.ws2

ORDER NO. 26773 -1-

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
January 21, 1997