ORDER NO. 98-338

ENTERED AUG 13 1998

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

BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION

OF OREGON

UM 892

DISPOSITION: COMMUNITY OF INTEREST FOUND BETWEEN

BROWNSVILLE AND ALBANY;

NO COMMUNITY OF INTEREST FOUND BETWEEN

BROWNSVILLE AND SWEET HOME

On June 3, 1998, an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issued a proposed order in this matter. The ALJ concluded that the proposed interexchange route between the Brownsville and the Albany telephone exchanges satisfied the Commission’s objective criteria for a community of interest set forth in Order Nos. 89-815 and 92-1136. He further concluded, however, that the proposed interexchange route between the Brownsville and Sweet Home telephone exchanges did not meet the Commission’s objective criteria for a community of interest and recommended that that portion of the extended area service (EAS) petition be dismissed. The proposed order gave petitioners the opportunity to request a hearing to establish, through demographic, economic, financial, and other evidence that a community of interest exists between the Brownsville and Sweet Home exchanges. 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 route meets the objective community of interest requirements of Order Nos. 89-815 and 92-1136:

Brownsville/Albany

This completes Phase I of this docket for this interexchange route. That portion of the petition is now ready to enter Phase II, the rate and cost phase of this proceeding. For Phase II, the Brownsville/Albany interexchange route will be grouped with other EAS dockets that complete Phase I by August 1, 1998. The serving telephone companies shall file proposed rates and supporting cost information by October 15, 1998.

2. The following interexchange route does not meet the objective community of interest requirements of Order Nos. 89-815 and 92-1136:

Brownsville/Sweet Home

Petitioners did not request an opportunity to establish through demographic, economic, financial, or other evidence that a community of interest exists between these exchange. Accordingly, that portion of the petition for extended area service between the Brownsville and Sweet Home telephone exchange 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.