BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

In re the Matter of the Petition of
U S WEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
for Competitive Classification of its High Capacity Circuits in Selected 
Geographic Locations
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	)	DOCKET NO. UT-990022 
		NINTH SUPPLEMENTAL ORDER APPROVING COMPLIANCE TARIFF FILING, WITH CONDITIONS 

Summary
Compliance Tariff Filing:
1 On January 8, 1999, U S WEST filed a petition for competitive classification 
of its high- capacity circuits pursuant to RCW 80.36.330 and WAC 480-120-023. 
Specifically, U S WEST requested that the Commission classify as competitive 
its provisioning of DS-1, DS-3, and SONET [synchronous optical network] 
services within the Greater Seattle, Vancouver, and Spokane areas.
2 In January 2000, the Commission granted U S WEST's petition for competitive 
classification of its high-capacity services, as amended on June 11, 1999. The 
order was effective for six geographic market areas delineated in the amended 
petition: Seattle Elliot, Seattle Main, Seattle Campus, Seattle Duwamish, 
Bellevue Glencourt, and a limited portion of downtown Spokane. The Commission 
found that competition for high- capacity circuits was sufficiently robust to 
allow U S WEST to join the competition, relieve U S WEST for price regulation 
of the services, and to let the competitive market work to determine prices, 
subject to the minimum statutory requirements under RCW 80.36.330.
3 On January 11, 2000, U S WEST filed Compliance Tariff Revisions and Price 
Lists (Compliance Filing) with Commission in accordance with the Eighth 
Supplemental Order Granting Amended Petition for Competitive Classification 
(Final Order). 
Commission Decision:
4 Subject to the conditions set forth in this order, the Commission approves U 
S WEST's Compliance Filing and orders that U S WEST is authorized to provide 
the services contained in and pursuant to those filings and the Eighth 
Supplemental Order.
Memorandum
Discussion of Issues:
5 Upon review of U S WEST's tariffs and the Compliance Filing, Commission Staff 
discovered that the filing met all substantive requirements of the First Order. 
However, Staff discovered several minor, technical errors. The Commission 
approves U S WEST's Compliance Filing subject to the condition that U S WEST 
correct the errors. U S WEST has committed to do so.
6 First, the map of the Main and Elliott wire centers in U S WEST's compliance 
filing was not labeled. In addition, U S West agrees to add text descriptions 
to clarify the actual boundaries.
7 Second, U S WEST charged its customers $970 non-recurring charge for services 
they ordered under U-31, Section 15, 1st Revised Sheet 30, for USOC's D1OXM, 
D1OX3, D1OX5, and D1OX7. The tariff rate was $900. From June 14, 1999 to the 
date of this Order, U S WEST has overcharged for 358 Non-Recurring Charges for 
a total amount of $25,060.00. It should be required to refund the overcharges 
on the schedule identified below and to report the results of its refund in 
detail.
8 Third, references to DC Line Powering and ZBTSI Protocol, which were 
grandfathered in 1995, in Docket No. UT-951291 but which were not removed from 
the tariff pages. U S West must issue correction sheets as specified below. 
9 The Commission finds that, subject to the condition that U S WEST correct the 
errors discovered by Commission Staff in U S WEST's tariffs and Compliance 
Filing, the Compliance Filing filed by U S WEST on January 11, 2000, is 
consistent with the Eighth Supplemental Order and should be approved on 
condition that the technical problems are corrected on the schedule identified 
below.
Order
10 The tariff Compliance Filing filed by U S WEST on January 11, 2000, in 
accordance with the Eighth Supplemental Order in this proceeding, and subject 
to the conditions set forth in this order, will become effective as filed, and 
the rates, charges, and conditions set forth in the Compliance Filing are 
specified as the rates, charges, and conditions to be applicable to service on 
and after   February 18, 2000. The company is specifically authorized to submit 
corrected pages to the Commission no later than 5 p.m. on March 3, 2000. If 
those pages contain the corrections specified herein and only those corrections 
they will become effective as though timely filed with the remainder of the 
filing. The Commission further directs the Company to cease its overcharges and 
to refund all monies collected in excess of the allowable tariff charges within 
21 days after the date of this order and to report the completion of this task, 
with all pertinent details, no later than 30 days after the date of this order.
         Dated at Olympia, Washington, and effective this         day of 
February 2000.             WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSFORMATION COMMISSION
    MARILYN SHOWALTER, Chairwoman
   RICHARD HEMSTAD, Commissioner                  
   WILLIAM R. GILLIS, Commissioner