20251203Final_Order_No_36861.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
December 3,2025
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF QWEST ) CASE NO. QWE-T-25-03
CORPORATION'S APPLICATION FOR )
APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO )
THE INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT ) ORDER NO. 36864
WITH WASHINGTON RSA NO. 8 LIMITED )
PARTNERSHIP C/O INLAND CELLULAR )
On September 16, 2025, Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC ("Company") applied to
the Idaho Public Utilities Commission("Commission")requesting the approval of an Amendment
to the Interconnection Agreement approved by the Commission on February 27, 2001, in Order
No. 28656, between the Company and Washington RSA No. 8 Limited Partnership c/o Inland
Cellular, its General Partner("Washington RSA").
We now issue this Order granting approval of the Amendment to the Company's
Interconnection Agreement with Washington RSA.
BACKGROUND
The federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 ("Act") permits incumbent local exchange
carriers to voluntarily negotiate with a requesting telecommunications carrier for interconnection,
services, or network support. 47 U.S.C. § 252(a)(1). Under the Act, interconnection agreements,
including any amendments to them,must be submitted to the Commission for approval. 47 U.S.C.
§ 252(e)(1). The Commission may reject a voluntarily negotiated agreement only if it finds that:
(1)the agreement discriminates against a telecommunications carrier not a party to the agreement;
or (2) implementing the agreement is inconsistent with the public interest, convenience and
necessity. 47 U.S.C. § 252(e)(2)(A). Companies voluntarily entering into interconnection
agreements"may negotiate terms,prices and conditions that do not comply with either the[Federal
Communications Commission] rules or with the provisions of Section 251(b) or (c)." Order No.
28427 at 11. This comports with the Federal Communications Commission's rule that "a state
commission shall have authority to approve an interconnection agreement adopted by negotiation
even if the terms of the agreement do not comply with the requirements of[Part 51]."47 C.F.R. §
51.3.
ORDER NO. 36861 1

THE APPLICATION
The Company requested Commission approval of an Amendment to its Interconnection
Agreement with Washington RSA. The Company stated that the Amendment was achieved
through voluntary negotiation without the need for mediation, in accordance with § 252(e) of the
Act. Application at 1. The Company believed that the Interconnection Agreement provided no
grounds for Commission denial under § 252(e)(2). Id. at 2. The Company further maintained that
the Amendment serves the public interest and will enhance customer choice among local
telecommunications service providers. Id.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Commission Staff("Staff') reviewed the Company's Application and the Amendment to
the Interconnection Agreement. Staff Memo at 2. Staff believed that the Interconnection
Agreement was consistent with the pro-competitive policies of this Commission, Title 62 of the
Idaho Code, and the Act. Id. Accordingly, Staff recommended the Commission approve the
Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between the Company and Washington RSA. Id.
COMMISSION FINDINGS AND DECISION
Under the Act, resale interconnection agreements must be submitted to the Commission
for approval. 47 U.S.C. § 252(e)(1). The Commission's review is limited. The Commission may
reject an agreement adopted by negotiation only if the Commission finds that the agreement would
discriminate against non-party telecommunications carriers or that implementing it would be
inconsistent with the public interest, convenience, and necessity.Id.
Based upon our review of the Application and Staff s recommendation, the Commission
finds the Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement does not discriminate against non-party
telecommunications carriers, and that implementing it would be consistent with the public interest,
convenience,and necessity.Therefore,the Commission finds it reasonable to grant the Application
and approve the Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between the Company and
Washington RSA. Our approval of the Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement does not
negate either party's responsibility to obtain a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity if
they offer local exchange services, or to comply with Idaho Code §§ 62-604 and 62-606 if they
provide other non-basic local telecommunications services as defined by Idaho Code § 62-603.
ORDER NO. 36861 2

ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Application is granted, and the Amendment to the
Interconnection Agreement between the Company and Washington RSA is approved.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER. Any person interested in this Order may petition for
reconsideration within twenty-one (21) days of the service date of this Order. Within seven (7)
days after any person has petitioned for reconsideration, any other person may cross-petition for
reconsideration.Idaho Code §§ 61-626 and 62-619.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this Yd day of
December 2025.
G
Grp
EDWARD LODGE, PRE ENT
OHN R. HAMMOND, JR., COMMISSIONER
DAYN HARDI , COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
guap-4- -
La ra Calderon Robles
Interim Commission Secretary
I:\Legal\TELE COM\Q W ET2503_final_em.docx
ORDER NO. 36861 3