20021107_312.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER HANSEN
JEAN JEWELL
RANDY LOBB
DON HOWELL
JOE CUSICK
WAYNE HART
CAROLEE HALL
BIRDELLE BROWN
BEVERLY BARKER
RON LAW
TONY A CLARK
WORKING FILE
FROM:DOUG COOLEY
DATE:NOVEMBER 5, 2002
RE:REPLY COMMENT PERIOD IN THE MATTER OF DECLARATORY
RULING; VIRTUAL NXX CALLING. CASE NO. GNR-T-02-16.
BACKGROUND
On August 27 2002, several small incumbent local exchange companies filed a petition
seeking a declaratory order. Specifically, the Petitioners urged the Commission to declare that
the practice of "virtual" calling by means of a virtual prefix (NXX) or other virtual-like services
is not in the public interest and should be prohibited in Idaho. Virtual NXX calling converts
what would otherwise be a long-distance toll call to a toll-free call by the assignment of a
telephone prefix that makes it appear that the call is a local call.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
The Commission issued a Notice of Modified Procedure and established a 28-day
comment period in Order No. 29125 filed October 4 2002. Comments were filed by Staff
Qwest Corporation, Verizon Northwest, Western Wireless Corporation, Sprint Communications
WorldCom, Time Warner Telecom ofIdaho, Level 3 Communications, and AT&T
Communications. These comments cover a wide range of divergent views. Based on these
initial comments, Staff believes the record would be enhanced by allowing the parties to file
DECISION MEMORANDUM NOVEMBER 5, 2002
reply comments. Staff contacted the interested parties and found general support of having reply
comments. Therefore, Staff recommends that the Commission establish a 28-day reply comment
period for this case.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to establish a 28-day reply comment period for this case?
D6Ug CooleY
i:udmemos/virtual nxx mem
DECISION MEMORANDUM NOVEMBER 5 , 2002