ORDER NO. 98-199

ENTERED MAY 21 1998

This is an electronic copy. Appendices may not be included.

BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION

OF OREGON

UM 872

DISPOSITION: NO COMMUNITY OF INTEREST FOUND; PETITION DENIED

On March 10, 1998, an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issued a proposed order in this matter. The ALJ concluded that the proposed interexchange route between the Horton and the Veneta telephone exchanges did not meet the Commission’s objective criteria for a community of interest set forth in Order Nos. 89-815 and 92-1136. Based on that conclusion, the ALJ recommended that the extended area service (EAS) petition be dismissed, unless the petitioners requested an opportunity to establish, through demographic, economic, financial, and other evidence that a community of interest exists. The proposed order advised the petitioners that such a request had to be filed within 15 days from the date of service.

Petitioners did not request a demographic hearing, and the time for doing so has expired. The proposed order, Attachment 1, has been considered and is adopted.

ORDER

IT IS ORDERED that:

1. The following interexchange routes do not meet the objective community of interest requirements of Order Nos. 89-815 and 92-1136:

Horton/Veneta

2. Petitioners did not request an opportunity to establish through demographic, economic, financial, or other evidence that a community of interest exists between the exchanges.

3. The petition for extended area service between the Horton and the Veneta telephone exchanges is denied.

Made, entered, and effective ________________________.

A party may request rehearing or reconsideration of this order pursuant to ORS 756.561. A party may appeal this order pursuant to ORS 756.580.