26773.docx

(text box: 1)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. USW-T-96-11
                  WST-T-96-1
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. USW-T-96-11/WST-T-96-1 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. USW-T-96-11/WST-T-96-1.  Within seven (7) days after any person has petitioned for reconsideration, any other person may cross-petition for reconsideration.  See Idaho Code § 61-626.
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
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COMMENTS AND ANNOTATIONS
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Service Date
January 21, 1997