DOCKET UT-980318 PAGE 1

BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION



In the Matter of Request For Approval of      )
an Agreement to Adopt Negotiated   )
Interconnection Agreement under the      )   DOCKET UT-980318
Telecommunications Act of 1996 between   )  
       )
TELEPORT COMMUNICATIONS   )
GROUP, INC.      )  ORDER APPROVING ADOPTION and       )  OF ARBITRATED
GTE NORTHWEST INCORPORATED  )  INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT
       ) 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .)

 
  Procedural History.  This matter comes before the Washington Utilities and 
Transportation Commission (“Commission”) for approval of adoption of an 
arbitrated Interconnection Agreement under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 
between Teleport Communications Group, Inc. (“TCG”), and GTE Northwest, 
Incorporated (“GTENW”).  On April 23, 1998, the parties jointly filed a request 
for approval to adopt the previously approved interconnection agreement between 
MCI Metro Access Transmission Services (“MCIm”), and GTENW in its entirety.  
GTENW has entered into the agreement but does not waive all rights and remedies 
it has concerning its position as to the legality or reasonableness of the 
terms of the arbitrated agreement.  The parties executed the Agreement on April 
7, 1998.

   The Commission considered and approved the joint request in support of the 
Agreement at an open public meeting held on June 15, 1998.


FINDINGS OF FACT

  1.  The Commission is an agency of the state of Washington vested by statute 
with the authority to regulate the rates, rules, regulations, practices, 
accounts, securities, and transfers of public service companies, including 
telecommunications companies.

  2.  The Commission is authorized by Section 252(e) of the Communications Act 
of 1934, as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (“Act”), to approve 
adopted agreements for network interconnection and service resale between 
telecommunications providers.

  3.  GTENW is engaged in the business of furnishing telecommunications 
services, including, but not limited to, basic local exchange service within 
the state of Washington.

  4.  TCG is authorized to provide intrastate and local exchange 
telecommunications services in the state of Washington.

  5.  On April 23, 1998, the parties jointly filed with the Commission a 
request for approval of adoption of an arbitrated Interconnection Agreement for 
network interconnection and service resale pursuant to the Act.

  6.  GTENW has entered into the agreement but does not waive all rights and 
remedies it has concerning its position as to the legality or reasonableness of 
the terms of the arbitrated agreement.

  7.  The Agreement is an adoption of a previously approved interconnection 
agreement.

  8.  The Agreement does not discriminate against any other telecommunications 
carrier.

  9.  The Agreement will facilitate local exchange competition in the state of 
Washington by enabling TCG to enter the local exchange market and provide 
customers with increased choices among local exchange services.



CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

  1.  The Commission has jurisdiction over the subject matter and all parties.

  2.  The Agreement is consistent with the public interest, convenience, and 
necessity.

  3.  The Agreement meets the criteria of Sections 251 and 252 of the Act, 
including including Section 252(e).

  4.  The laws of Washington shall govern the construction and interpretation 
of the Agreement.  The Agreement shall also be subject to the present and 
future decisions of the Commission and the Washington courts.





O R D E R

 THE COMMISSION ORDERS:

  1.  The Agreement for network interconnection and service resale between 
Teleport Communications Group, Inc., and GTE Northwest, Incorporated, dated 
April 7, 1998, is approved.

  2.  The laws of Washington shall govern the construction and interpretation 
of the Agreement.  The Agreement shall also be subject to the present and 
future decisions of the Commission and the Washington courts.

  DATED at Olympia, Washington, and effective this 15th day of 
June, 1998.


WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION



       ANNE LEVINSON, Chair



       RICHARD HEMSTAD, Commissioner



       WILLIAM R. GILLIS, 
       Commissioner