27169.docx

(text box: 1)BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT APPLICATION OF ALBION TELEPHONE COMPANY AND WESTEL, INC. AND US WEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC. FOR AN ORIGINAL AND AN AMENDED CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY, RESPECTIVELY.
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CASE NOS.  USW-T-97-17
                      WTL-T-97-1
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED
         PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 27169
On September 4, 1997, Albion Telephone Company and Westel, Inc.and US WEST Communications, Inc. filed a joint Application to amend US WEST’s Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity and for Westel to receive a new Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity.  In Order No. 26353, the Commission approved the sale of  ten (10) US WEST exchanges to six (6) purchasers, including Westel.  Order No. 26353, p. 22.  Westel purchased the Arco, Mackay, and Malad, Idaho exchanges from US WEST.(footnote: 1) In approving the sale, the Commission directed the purchasers and US WEST to submit new or amended Certificates to reflect the sales transactions.  Id.  In Order No. 27166 the Commission granted that portion of this Application which  amends US WEST’s Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED in this Application that Westel requests the Commission issue it a new Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity generally consisting of the Arco, Mackay, and Malad exchanges purchased and transferred from US WEST.  This joint Application also included additional contiguous and unserved areas in Butte and Custer Counties.  Those additional areas are fully described in the maps and legal descriptions of the boundaries included as part of the Application on file with the Commission.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that this Application, together with supporting exhibits, has been filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection during regular business hours at the Commission offices.
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has determined that the public interest may not require a formal hearing in this matter and, therefore, will proceed under Modified Procedure pursuant to Rules 201 through 204 of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission's Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.201 through -.204.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that any person desiring to state a position on this Application may file a written comment in support or opposition with the Commission within twenty-eight (28) days from the date of this Notice.  The comment must contain a statement of reasons supporting the comment.  Persons desiring a hearing must specifically request a hearing in their written comments.  Written comments concerning this Application shall be mailed to the Commission and the Applicants at the addresses reflected below:
COMMISSION SECRETARYCONLEY E.  WARD
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONMICHAEL C.  CREAMER
PO BOX 83720GIVENS PURSLEY & HUNTLEY LLP
BOISE, IDAHO  83720-0074P.O. BOX 2720
BOISE, IDAHO 83701-2720
Street Address for Express Mail:MARY S.  HOBSON
STOEL RIVES
472 W WASHINGTON ST101 S. CAPITOL BLVD, SUITE 1900
BOISE, IDAHO  83702-5983BOISE, IDAHO 83702-5958
These comments should contain the case caption and case numbers shown on the first page of this document.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no written comments are received within the time limit set, the Commission will consider this matter on its merits and enter its Order without a formal hearing.  If written comments are received within the time limit set, the Commission will consider them and, in its discretion, may set the same for formal hearing.
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.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this case will be held pursuant to the Commission's jurisdiction under Title 61 of the Idaho Code and that the Commission may enter any final Order consistent with its authority under Title 61.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this                  day of October 1997.
                                                                                                                                      DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT
                                                                                           RALPH NELSON, COMMISSIONER

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary
USW-T-97-17.cc2
FOOTNOTES
1:
This Application was filed as part of a series of joint Applications with US WEST and various other pur­chasers including:  Fremont Telcom Co.;  Silver Star Telephone Company;  Columbine Telephone Company, Inc;  Cambridge Telephone Company;  Council Telephone Company;  Direct Communications Lakeside, Inc.;  Farmers Mutual Telephone Cooperative;  Project Mutual Telephone Cooperative Association, Inc.; Midvale Telephone Ex­change, Inc.; and Sawtooth Telephone, Inc.  The parties jointly filed to amend their respective Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity or be issued new Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity in compliance with the Commission’sOrder Nos. 26198, 26242 and 26353.   See Order Nos. 27166 and 27168.
COMMENTS AND ANNOTATIONS
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Service Date
October 20, 1997