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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20080211_2167.pdfDECISION MEMORANDUM TO:COMMISSIONER REDFORD COMMISSIONER SMITH COMMISSIONER KEMPTON COMMISSION SECRETARY LEGAL WORKING FILE FROM:CAROLEE HALL DATE:FEBRUARY 8, 2008 RE:APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL TO AMEND THE INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN QWEST CORPORATION ("QWEST") AND FRETEL COMMUNICATIONS, LLC ("FRETEL"); CASE NO. QWE-99-14. 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)(I). 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 "a state commission shall have authority to approve an interconnection agreement adopted by negotiation even ifthe terms ofthe agreement do not comply with the requirements of (Part 51)." 47 C.R. ~ 51.3. CURRENT APPLICATION The original Agreement between Qwest and Fretel was approved by this Commission on August 27, 1999. This Agreement is to amend the terms, conditions and rates for Expedite Requests for Unbundled Network Elements, as set forth in Attachment 1 and Exhibit A ofthis filing. Both parties agree that this amendment will be deemed effective upon Commission approval. DECISION MEMORANDUM - 1 -FEBRUARY 8 , 2008 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? chall/lnterconnectim Agreements/QWE- T -99-14 Qwest and Fretel Expedited Re'fJests DECISION MEMORANDUM - 2 -FEBRUARY 8, 2008