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Home My WebLink About20220512Request for Clarification or Reconsideration.pdf 40619.0026.14757105.1 BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF QWEST CORPORATION’S PETITION FOR ELIMINATION OF PERFORMANCE ASSURANCE PLAN AND PERFORMANCE INDICATOR DEFINITIONS CASE NO. QWE-T-21-13 COMPLIANCE WITH ORDER NO. 35379 OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION OR RECONSIDERATION INTRODUCTION 1. Qwest Corporation d/b/a CenturyLink QC (“CenturyLink” or “Company”) hereby provides to the Commission information it believes satisfies the request in Order No. 35379 (the “Order”). However, if the Commission intended that the Company provide additional information, including but not limited to written amendments to the affected interconnection agreements, CenturyLink requests the Commission reconsider and clarify the Order to allow for acceptance of the compliance as made in this filing. I. Background 2. On December 1, 2021, CenturyLink petitioned the Commission for elimination of the Performance Indicator Definitions (“PIDs”) and Performance Assurance Plan (“PAP”).1 On April 21, 2022, the Commission granted the Petition and asked the Company to submit information to it by July 1, 2022. Specifically, the Commission ordered CenturyLink to, “file for Commission review by July 1, 2022, all ICAs that have the PIDs and PAPs removed.”2 To fulfill this condition, CenturyLink 1 The PIDs are included as Exhibit B to each ICA; the PAP is Exhibit K. 2 Order, at p. 2. RECEIVED 2022 May 12, PM 3:53 IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION 2 40619.0026.14757105.1 submits the information in Attachment 1, which details the individual interconnection agreements that include PIDs and PAPs, all of which are currently on file with the Commission. CenturyLink believes this provides the Commission with the information it needs to understand which interconnection agreements are affected by the change. II. Clarification or Reconsideration is Appropriate and Necessary in the Event the Commission Intended in the Order for CenturyLink to Re-File Already-Filed Interconnection Agreements, or to Otherwise Provide Information Above and Beyond what the Company Provides under this Filing 3. CenturyLink has identified 90 interconnection agreements that include terms for the PIDs and PAP. Amendments of PIDs and the PAP require a separate proceeding and procedures independent from the normal ICA amendment filing process, as outlined in Section 17.2 of the current PAP: 17.2 If CenturyLink QC or CLEC wishes to modify a PID or a PAP provision, the change must be approved by the Commission. Prior to seeking Commission approval, CenturyLink QC and CLEC will use the dispute resolution process set forth in Section 16.0 as the procedure for resolving the issues. Either CenturyLink or CLEC may submit its proposed modification(s) to the Commission for approval. The Commission will establish a process for providing notice and considering such request, including timelines for interested parties or Staff to oppose the request. If the request is unopposed, the Commission may grant such request without a hearing or further notice. 4. As noted in the Petition, CenturyLink notified CLECs consistent with this requirement and reached out directly to CLECs regarding the elimination of the PIDs and PAP. 5. Critically, Exhibit K of every interconnection agreement that includes the PIDs/PAP contains a provision, to which the parties agreed, designed to ensure that changes to the PAP are efficient and effective. Exhibit K states: 15.2.1 Subsequent changes to the PAP approved by the Commission will be incorporated into individual interconnection agreements that contain the PAP as soon as the effective date of the Commission order, and without further Amendment to those Agreements. 3 40619.0026.14757105.1 6. There are good reasons why the Commission order modifying the PAP/PIDs should not require filing amendments to the ICAs. First, the parties agreed in Section 15.2.1 of Exhibit K in every interconnection agreement that such filings are not appropriate – in fact, the elimination of the PAP, is already “incorporated into individual interconnection agreements that contain the PAP,” upon “effective date of the Commission order” and does not require “further Amendment to those Agreements.” Any additional filings would be contrary to the terms of the agreements and are unnecessary.3 7. Second, it would be virtually impossible, and highly impractical, to amend every single interconnection agreement that contains a PAP. In CenturyLink’s experience, it often never receives a response from CLECs for requests to amend an interconnection agreement, which may be because a CLEC is no longer in business, it does not actually offer any service in the state where the agreement is on file, or it simply chooses not to respond. In fact, this is part of the reason CenturyLink has not yet filed amendments relating to the FCC forbearance petition that is the subject of Case No. QWE-T-20-02.4 8. Moreover, there are other exhibits to the interconnection agreements that can be amended generically by Commission order without the need for any further filings or written amendments to the filed agreements. For example, service rates contained in Exhibit A to the interconnection agreements are never modified by 3 CenturyLink notes that five other states (SD, IA, MT, NE, WY, and NV) agree and have authorized elimination of the PIDs/PAP without a requirement to submit amendments. While this is certainly not binding on this Commission, the Company hopes it provides a level comfort that this interpretation has been consistently applied in other jurisdictions. 4 CenturyLink assures the Commission that it still intends to file the amendments. In addition to the inconsistent response from CLECs, it has experienced staffing issues regarding the agreement preparation and filing functions. However, the filings are not due under the FCC requirements until August 1, 2022. Also, it is important to note that the PIDs and PAP are not subject to amendment in the 2020 forbearance process – only the products that the Company offers to CLECs will change. 4 40619.0026.14757105.1 amendments to the interconnection agreements – they are modified by a generic order entered by the appropriate state commission. The Exhibit A process for rate changes was created for the same practical reasons as the amendment process for the QPAP in Exhibit K. 9. Last, there are no internal processes or systems support that would allow CenturyLink to create different PID/PAP criteria for individual CLECs. Any process that would result in amendments to only some CLEC’s interconnection agreements but not to others would be virtually impossible to implement, would create substantial delays, and would result in significant IT costs (possibly millions) to implement. The process set forth in Exhibit K, Section 15.2.1, which contemplates a generic order that applies to all interconnection agreements, is designed to avoid those significant costs and delays. COMMUNICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE 10. Pleadings, orders, notices or other correspondence and communications regarding this Petition should be provided to: William Hendricks Associate General Counsel Lumen Technologies 902 Wasco St, Floor 1 Hood River, OR 97031 Phone: (541) 387-9439 Email: tre.hendricks@centurylink.com And: Stephen R. Thomas HAWLEY TROXELL ENNIS HAWLEY LLP P.O. Box 1617 877 Main Street, Suite 1000 Boise, Idaho 83701 Phone: (208) 388-4068 sthomas@hawleytroxell.com 5 40619.0026.14757105.1 REQUEST FOR RELIEF CenturyLink respectfully requests that the Commission accept Attachment 1 as fulfilling the compliance requirement in Order No. 35379. In the alternative, if the Commission intended to require additional information, CenturyLink asks the Commission to reconsider the Order and clarify that the information in Attachment 1 is sufficient. Submitted this 12th day of May 2022. Respectfully, By: _/s/ Stephen R. Thomas__________________ Stephen R. Thomas Partner HAWLEY TROXELL ENNIS HAWLEY LLP (208) 388-4068 sthomas@hawleytroxell.com AND William E. Hendricks Associate General Counsel CENTURYLINK 902 Wasco Street Hood River, OR 97031 tre.hendricks@lumen.com ATTACHMENT 1 QWE-T-21-13 State Company Idaho 1-800-Reconex Inc. dba USTel Idaho 365 Wireless, LLC (Wireline) Idaho aardisServices Idaho ACN Communication Services Inc. Idaho Adams Technology Group, Corp. Idaho Airus, Inc. Idaho AT&T Corporation (fka AT&T Communications of the Mountain States, Inc.) Idaho Bandwidth.com CLEC, LLC Idaho BCN Telecom, Inc. Idaho Big Sky Telecom Inc. Idaho Blackfoot Communications, Inc. dba Fremont Communications (fka Fretel Communica Idaho BLC Management, LLC dba Angles Communication Solutions Idaho Broadview Networks, Inc. Idaho Broadvox-CLEC, LLC Idaho Bullseye Telecom Inc. Idaho CenturyLink Communications, LLC (fka Qwest Communications Corporation) Idaho Clertech.com, Incorporated Idaho Comcast Phone of Idaho, LLC Idaho Contact Communications Inc. Idaho Covista Inc. Idaho Cox Idaho Telcom L.L.C. Idaho CTC Telecom, Inc. Idaho Custer Telephone Broadband Services, LLC Idaho dishNET Wireline, L.L.C. (fka Liberty-Bell Telecom, LLC) Idaho DSLnet Communications, LLC Idaho Earthlink Business, LLC (fka New Edge Network Inc. dba New Edge Networks) Idaho Easton Telecom Services, LLC Idaho Electric Lightwave (fka Integra Telecom of Idaho Inc.) Idaho Electric Lightwave LLC Idaho Eltopia Communications, LLC Idaho EnTelegent Solutions, Inc. Idaho GC Pivotal, LLC (fka Access Point, Inc.) Idaho GC Pivotal, LLC dba Global Capacity [fka MegaPath Corporation (fka DIECA Commun Idaho Granite Telecommunications LLC Idaho Greenfly Networks, Inc. dba Clearfly Communications Idaho Group Six Communications, LLC Idaho High Tech Telephones Inc Idaho IDT America Corp. Idaho iNETWORKS Group, Inc. Idaho Intrado Communications, LLC (fka West Telecom Services, LLC fka Hypercube Telecom LLC (fka Hypercube Telecom, LLC Idaho Intrado Safety Communications, Inc. (fka West Safety Communiations, Inc.) Idaho Ionex Communications North, Inc. dba Birch Communications Idaho Ionex Communications North, Inc. dba Birch Communications (fka Ernest Communications, Inc.) ATTACHMENT 1 QWE-T-21-13 Idaho Ionex Communications North, Inc. dba Birch Communications (fka Lightyear Network Solutions, LLC) Idaho Level 3 Telecom of Idaho, LLC (fka tw telecom of idaho llc (fka Time Warner Tel Idaho LXI-CLEC, LLC Idaho Matrix Telecom, LLC. dba Excel Telecommunications (fka Comtel) Idaho Matrix Telecom, LLC. dba Matrix Business Technologies dba Trinsic Communication Idaho Matrix Telecom, LLC. dba VarTec Telecom (fka Comtel) Idaho MCImetro Access Transmission Services LLC Idaho McLeodUSA Telecommunications Services, LLC Idaho Metropolitan Telecommunications of Idaho Inc. Idaho Montana Opticom, LLC (fka BridgeBand Communications, Inc.) Idaho National ComTel Network, Inc. Idaho Native Network, Inc. (fka CATTCOMM LLC) Idaho Navigator Telecommunications, LLC Idaho New Rochelle Telephone Corp. Idaho NOS Communications, Inc. Idaho NSW Telecom, Inc. Idaho Onvoy, Inc. Idaho Onvoy, LLC (fka Neutral Tandem-___, LLC) Idaho Optix Media, LLC Idaho OrbitCom Inc. Idaho Pacific Centrex Services Inc. - PCS1 Idaho Pipertel Communications LLC Idaho Praxis Limited Co. dba A+ Satellite Idaho Prime Time Ventures LLC Idaho Project Mutual Telephone Cooperative Association Inc. Idaho QuantumShift Communications, Inc., dba vCom Solutions Idaho RCLEC, Inc. Idaho Red Ban Communications, LLC dba Nextphone (fka Albion Telephone Company) Idaho Regal Diversified Inc. (dba Regal Telephone Company) Idaho Simwood Inc. Idaho Spectrotel, Inc. Idaho Sprint Communications Company L.P. Idaho TDS Metrocom, LLC (fka USLink) Idaho Telequality Communications, Inc. Idaho TNCI Operating Company LLC Idaho Triarch Marketing Inc. dba Triarch Communications Idaho Utility Telephone, Inc. Idaho VCI Company Idaho Virtual Network Solutions, Inc. Idaho WestCom LLC dba WesTelFiber (fka Digital Easy Chair) Idaho Wholesail Networks, LLC (fka Noel Communications, Inc.) Idaho Wide Voice, LLC Idaho Windstream NuVox, LLC Idaho XO Communications Services, LLC ATTACHMENT 1 QWE-T-21-13 Idaho Ymax Communications Corp. Idaho Zayo Group, LLC - - [was - 360networks (USA) inc.] Idaho Zayo Group, LLC (fka American Fiber Systems Holding Corp. (fka American Fiber S ATTACHMENT 1 QWE-T-21-13 Contract Number Type CDS-040420-0002 Wireline CDS-130607-0003 Wireline CDS-040210-0002 Wireline CDS-031022-0005 Wireline CDS-101214-0001 Resale CDS-150319-0001 Wireline CDS-040129-0006 Wireline CDS-080225-0004 Wireline CDS-140224-0004 Wireline CDS-020726-0005 Wireline CDS-080512-0001 Wireline CDS-081113-0004 Wireline CDS-101019-0004 Wireline CDS-110420-0004 Wireline CDS-040920-0008 Wireline CDS-040614-0002 Wireline CDS-080613-0004 Wireline CDS-170724-0001 Wireline CDS-021226-0002 Wireline CDS-040406-0020 Wireline CDS-060103-0009 Wireline CDS-090624-0001 Wireline CDS-121029-0001 Wireline CDS-100726-0006 Wireline CDS-090114-0004 Wireline CDS-020731-0015 Wireline CDS-090527-0010 Resale CDS-000215-0051 Wireline CDS-000612-0162 Wireline CDS-080508-0001 Wireline CDS-090313-0015 Wireline CDS-080317-0005 Wireline CDS-050818-0009 Wireline CDS-040127-0030 Wireline CDS-080806-0003 Wireline CDS-100914-0002 Wireline CDS-030729-0029 Resale CDS-040617-0002 Wireline CDS-090803-0018 Resale CDS-061107-0004 Wireline CDS-100112-0010 Wireline CDS-150116-0002 Wireline CDS-050616-0005 Wireline ATTACHMENT 1 QWE-T-21-13 CDS-040615-0004 Wireline CDS-040622-0003 Wireline CDS-110818-0001 Wireline CDS-171219-0003 Wireline CDS-171220-0003 Wireline CDS-171221-0003 Wireline CDS-060830-0001 Wireline CDS-151215-0003 Wireline CDS-041213-0017 Wireline CDS-040223-0009 Wireline CDS-110712-0002 Resale CDS-171204-0002 Wireline CDS-051208-0004 Wireline CDS-050126-0035 Wireline CDS-070713-0009 Resale CDS-090415-0004 Resale CDS-131112-0004 Wireline CDS-100316-0001 Wireline CDS-120215-0001 Wireline CDS-040603-0002 Wireline CDS-060221-0028 Wireline CDS-050128-0013 Wireline CDS-121025-0001 Wireline CDS-050302-0012 Wireline CDS-050118-0015 Wireline CDS-080828-0004 Wireline CDS-151013-0001 Wireline CDS-051129-0004 Wireline CDS-030722-0010 Resale CDS-211217-0002 Wireline CDS-111215-0004 Wireline CDS-031208-0002 Wireline CDS-190614-0001 Wireline CDS-131002-0002 Wireline CDS-040929-0003 Wireline CDS-100419-0004 Wireline CDS-070712-0002 Wireline CDS-040915-0016 Wireline CDS-090310-0004 Resale CDS-021104-0026 Wireline CDS-131004-0001 Wireline CDS-160915-0001 Wireline CDS-151215-0040 Wireline CDS-080415-0003 Wireline ATTACHMENT 1 QWE-T-21-13 CDS-060809-0001 Wireline CDS-051219-0002 Wireline CDS-030730-0009 Wireline