20060306_1485.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER HANSEN
COMMISSION SECRETARY
LEGAL
WORKING FILE
FROM:CAROLEE HALL
DATE:MARCH 2, 2006
RE:COX IDAHO TELCOM LLC'S APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL TO
ADOPT THE INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN QWEST
AND TIME WARNER TELECOM OF IDAHO, CASE NO. QWE- T -06-
BACKGROUND
Under the provision of the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, interconnection
agreements must be submitted to the Commission for approval. 47 U.C. ~ 252(e)(1). The
Commission may reject an agreement adopted by negotiations only if it finds that the agreement:
(1) discriminates against a telecommunications carrier not a party to the agreement; or
(2) implementation of the agreement is not consistent with the public interest, convenience and
necessity. 47 U.c. ~ 252(e)(2)(A). As the Commission noted in Order No. 28427 , companies
voluntarily entering into interconnection agreements "may negotiate terms, prices and conditions
that do not comply with either the FCC rules or with the provision of Section 251 (b) or ( c).
Order No. 28427 at 11 (emphasis in original). This comports with the FCC's statement that "
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.R. ~ 51.3.
CURRENT APPLI CA TI
In the Application between Qwest Corporation and Cox Idaho Telcom LLC in Case
No. QWE- T -06-04 filed February 24, 2006, the companies seek Commission approval for Cox to
adopt, in its entirety with any amendments subsequently approved, the Interconnection
Agreement between Time Warner Telecom of Idaho and Qwest Corporation fka US WEST
DECISION MEMORANDUM - 1 -MARCH 2, 2006
Communication, Inc. (Qwest) that was approved by the Commission on August 2 2004. Both
Qwest and Cox state that the agreement to adopt the Interconnection Agreement was jointly
entered into between the parties and provides for both companies to interconnect their facilities
for the purpose of providing customers with increased choices among local telecommunications
servIces.
STAFF ANALYSIS
Staff has reviewed the Application and does not find any terms or conditions that it
considers to be discriminatory or contrary to the public interest. Staff believes that the
Agreement is consistent with the public interest as identified in the pro-competitive policies of
this Commission, the Idaho Legislature, and the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Accordingly, Staff believes that the Agreement merits the Commission s approval.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to accept and approve this Interconnection Agreement?
i:/QWETO6.4 Cox Time Warner Qwest
DECISION MEMORANDUM - 2 -MARCH 2, 2006