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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20190312_ch1jo.pdfDECISION MEMORANDUM TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER COMMISSIONER RAPER COMMISSIONER ANDERSON COMMISSION SECRETARY LEGAL WORKING FILE FROM:CAROLEE HALL DATE:MARCH 4,2019 RE:APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO AN INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN QWEST CORPORATION DBA CENTURYLINK QC AND LEVEL 3 TELECOM OF IDAHO,LLC.CASE NO.QWE-T-04-20. BACKGROUND On February 22,2019,this Commission received an Application seeking approval for an Amendment to an Interconnection Agreement between CenturyLinkQC and Level 3 Telecom, LLC,fka tw Telecom,LLC,fka Time Warner Telecom,LLC ("Level 3 Telecom").The original Agreement was approvedby the Idaho Public Utilities Commission on August 2,2004. Under the provision of the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996,interconnection agreements must be submitted to the Commission for approval.47 U.S.C.§252(e)(l).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.S.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 if the terms of the agreement do not comply with the requirements of [Part 51]." 47 C.F.R.§51.3. DECISION MEMORANDUM -1 -MARCH 4,2019 DISCUSSION The Application states that the agreement was reached throughvoluntarynegotiations without resort to mediation or arbitration and submitted for approval pursuant to Section 252(e) of the Communications Act of 1934,as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996.The Amended application sets out specific terms and conditions under which Level 3 and CenturyLinkwill exchange traffic under a Reciprocal Compensation agreement.The agreement sets out a Bill and Keep arrangement as set forth in Exhibit A of the agreement. STAFF ANALYSIS Staff has reviewed the Application between the parties and believes that it meets the terms and conditions of this Commission and is consistent with the pro-competitive policies of this Commission and the Idaho Legislature.Staff recommends approval of the Amended Agreement. COMMISSION DECISION Does the Commission agree? Carol Hall * i:udmemos/QWE-T-04-20 Qwest Corporation dba.Centurylink QC and Level 3,LLC,fka tw Telecom,et all DECISION MEMORANDUM -2 -MARCH 4,2019