BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION


In the Matter of the Petition of )
)
U S WEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC., ) Docket No. UT-990022
)
for Competitive Classification of ) NEXTLINK PETITION TO
Its High Capacity Circuits in ) INTERVENE
Selected Geographic Locations )
)
) 


 Pursuant to WAC 480-09-430(1), NEXTLINK Washington, Inc. ("NEXTLINK") hereby 
petitions the Commission for leave to intervene in the above-entitled docket.  
As grounds for intervention, NEXTLINK states as follows:
I.
 The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the persons to whom 
communications should be addressed are:
 Gregory J. Kopta    Rex Knowles
 DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE LLP Director Regulatory & External Affairs
 2600 Century Square   NEXTLINK
 1501 Fourth Avenue    111 E. Broadway, Suite 1000
 Seattle, WA  98101-1688   Salt Lake City, UT  84111
 voice:  (206) 628-7692   voice: (801) 983-1500
 fax:   (206) 628-7699   fax: (801) 983-1667
 e-mail: gregkopta@dwt.com   e-mail: rknowles@nextlink.net


II.
 NEXTLINK is a registered telecommunications company authorized to provide both 
intraexchange and interexchange telecommunications services throughout 
Washington. NEXTLINK currently competes with U S WEST Communications, Inc. ("U 
S WEST") in the provision of all such services, including "high capacity 
circuits."
III.
 NEXTLINK has a substantial interest in whether, and the extent to which, U S 
WEST may receive competitive classification for provisioning "high capacity 
circuits."  NEXTLINK is the primary competitor of U S WEST in the provision of 
local exchange service in Spokane, and NEXTLINK intends to provide local 
exchange services in the greater Seattle area in the near future.  Among the 
services NEXTLINK provides are high capacity voice and data services, the same 
services U S WEST apparently has petitioned to offer under competitive 
classification.  NEXTLINK also obtains high capacity circuits from U S WEST 
that NEXTLINK uses to provide service to its customers.  As both a customer and 
competitor of U S WEST, therefore, the regulation under which U S WEST provides 
high capacity facilities and services has a significant impact on NEXTLINK and 
its ability to serve its customers.
IV.
 The evidence to be presented by NEXTLINK, if any, will be of material value to 
the Commission in its determination of the issues involved in this proceeding, 
and NEXTLINK's intervention will not broaden those issues or delay the 
proceedings.

 WHEREFORE, NEXTLINK prays for leave to intervene as a party to this 
proceeding, with a right to discovery, to have notice of and appear at the 
taking of testimony, to produce and cross-examine witnesses, and to be heard in 
person or by counsel on brief and at oral argument.
 RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED this _____ day of February, 1999.

      DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE LLP
      Attorneys for NEXTLINK, Washington, Inc.



      By  
       Gregory J. Kopta
       WSBA No. 20519