ORDER NO. 97-341

ENTERED SEP 5, 1997

This is an electronic copy

BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION

OF OREGON

ARB 3

ARB 6

In the Matter of the Petition of AT&T Communications of the Pacific Northwest, Inc., for Arbitration of Interconnection Rates, Terms, and Conditions Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. Sec. 252(b) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. (ARB 3) )

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ORDER

In the Matter of the Petition of MCI Metro Access Transmission Services, Inc., for Arbitration of Interconnection Rates, Terms, and Conditions Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. Sec. 252(b) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. (ARB 6) )

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DISPOSITION: EXECUTED INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENTS

APPROVED

On August 4, 1997, the Public Utility Commission of Oregon (Commission) issued Order No. 97-288 in this consolidated arbitration proceeding. The order addressed objections raised by U S WEST Communications, Inc. (USWC) to interconnection agreements submitted by AT&T Communications of the Pacific Northwest, Inc. (AT&T), and MCI Metro Access Transmission Services, Inc. (MCI). Order No. 97-288 required that the agreements be revised to conform with Order Nos. 97-003 and 97-150 previously issued in this matter. The parties were instructed to file executed interconnection agreements in accordance with the terms of the order.

On August 25, 1997, the parties filed executed agreements to govern interconnection between USWC and AT&T and between USWC and MCI. The agreements incorporate the revisions required by Order No. 97-288.

ORDER NO.

Section 252(e)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, requires that any interconnection agreement adopted by negotiation or arbitration shall be submitted for approval to the State commission. Section 252(e)(2)(B) provides that the State commission may reject an agreement (or any portion thereof) adopted by arbitration only "if it finds that the agreement does not meet the requirements of section 251, including the regulations prescribed by the Commission pursuant to section 251, or the standards set forth in subsection (d) of this section."

The Commission concludes that the interconnection agreements meet the requirements of the Act, applicable Federal Communications Commission rules, and relevant state law and regulations, and should be approved.

ORDER

IT IS ORDERED that the interconnection agreements between USWC and AT&T and between USWC and MCI filed on August 25, 1997, are approved and shall become effective five business days after the issuance of this order.

Made, entered, and effective ________________________. 

_____________________________

Roger Hamilton

Chairman

 ____________________________

Ron Eachus

Commissioner
  ____________________________

Joan H. Smith

Commissioner

A party may request rehearing or reconsideration of this order pursuant to ORS 756.561. A request for rehearing or reconsideration must be filed with the Commission within 60 days of the date of service of this order and must comply with OAR 860-014-0095. A copy of any such request must also be served on each party to the proceeding as provided by OAR 860-013-0070(2). A party may appeal this order to a court pursuant to applicable law.