20021115min.doc

MINUTES OF DECISION MEETING
NOVEMBER 15, 2002 – 1:30 P.M.
(SUBJECT TO COMMISSION APPROVAL)

In attendance were Commissioners Paul Kjellander, Dennis Hansen, and Marsha Smith.

The next order of business was approval of item 1 on the CONSENT AGENDA. There were no questions or comments. Commissioner Kjellander made a motion to approve Consent Agenda item 1. A vote was taken and the motion carried unanimously.

The next order of business was MATTERS IN PROGRESS:

John Hammond’s November 7, 2002 Decision Memo re: Amendments Made to Existing Qwest Interconnection Agreements with Eschelon Telecom, Inc. (1 Amendment), Covad Communications Company (2 Amendments) and McLeodUSA (3 Amendments). Case No. QWE-T-02-17.

Mr. Hammond reviewed his Decision Memo. Commissioner Hansen asked if the agreements discriminated against carriers that are not parties to the agreements, and he asked why Staff was recommending approval if they were also recommending that they should be investigated.

Wayne Hart replied that the reason they recommend approval is that terms are open for other companies to adopt, and the sooner we approve and make them available, we will make discrimination end. He said the bulk of the agreement needs to be made available to other carriers as quickly as possible.