20040510_829.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
CO MMISSI 0 NER SMITH
COMMISSIONER HANSEN
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL
FROM:WELDON STUTZMAN
DATE:MAY 6, 2004
RE:CASE NO. GNR-03-
APPLICATION OF VERIZON AVENUE CORP FOR A CERTIFICATE OF
PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY
On August 15, 2003 , Verizon Avenue Corporation filed an Application for a
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to provide facilities-based and resold
competitive local exchange and interexchange telecommunication servkes. Verizon Avenue is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Verizon Communications, Inc. Verizon Avenue intends to offer
local exchange service and local toll service by reselling services obtained through existing local
exchange carriers, other than Verizon Northwest, Inc. The Company s Application states it does
not intend to offer competitive local exchange, local toll or interLATA toll telephone services
within the service territory ofVerizon Northwest.
On March 30, 2004, the Commission issued a Notice of Application and Notice of
Modified Procedure to process Verizon Avenue s Application. Staff filed written comments
confirming that the Company had filed illustrative tariffs to comply with the Commission s rules
and Idaho statutes. Staff recommended approval of Verizon Avenue s Application. Written
comments were also filed by the Idaho Telephone Association. ITA noted that Verizon Avenue
has not made a bona fide request to any ITA member for interconnection, services or network
elements. ITA recommended that a grant of Certificate authority to Verizon Avenue be made
subject to the exemption of ITA members from the obligations of incumbent local exchange
carriers under Section 251 (c) of the 1996 telecommunications act.
DECISION MEMORANDUM
Staff recommends that the Application of Verizon Avenue for a Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity be approved and that the Commission s Order note that rural
telephone carriers maybe exempt from the obligations of incumbent local exchange carriers
pursuant to Section 251 (c) of the telecommunications act.
COMMISSION DECISION
Should the Application of Verizon Avenue for a Certificate of Public Convenience
and Necessity be approved?
n~.
Weldon Stutzman
Vld/M:GNRTO326
DECISION MEMORANDUM