20051011_1349.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER HANSEN
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEG AL
FROM:WELDON STUTZMAN
DATE:OCTOBER 6, 2005
SUBJECT:CASE NO. QWE-05-
JOINT MOTION BY THE PARTIES TO EXTEND PROCEDURAL
SCHEDULE
This case was initiated by a Petition filed by Level 3 Communications requesting
arbitration of an Interconnection Agreement between Level 3 and Qwest Corporation. On August 2
2005 , the Commission issued a Procedural Order, appointing an arbitrator and establishing a schedule
to complete the arbitration. On October 5, 2005, Level 3 and Qwest filed a Joint Motion to Extend the
Procedural Schedule. The Joint Motion states that the parties have been negotiating in an effort to
reach a settlement on the terms and conditions of an interconnection agreement, and "the parties agree
that focusing on negotiations, rather than continued efforts in a litigation, best serves the likelihood of
resolution.Accordingly, the parties in their Motion ask the Commission to extend the deadlines for
conducting the hearings and to complete the arbitration. The parties propose to modify the deadlines
normally established pursuant to Section 252 of the federal Telecommunications Act. The parties have
agreed that the hearing deadline may be extended to November 30, 2005, and that the Commission will
have until March 1 , 2006 to issue a final ruling on arbitration of the interconnection agreement.
Staff recommends that the Commission grant the Joint Motion filed by the parties and
extend the procedural schedule as outlined in the Motion.
COMMISSION DECISION
Should the Joint Motion filed by Level 3 and Qwest to extend the procedural schedule be
approved?
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Weldon Stutzman
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