BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

In the Matter of the Request for Approval of Negotiated Agreement under the 
Telecommunications Act of 1996 Between
PREFERRED CARRIER SERVICES, INC. 
and 
UNITED TELEPHONE COMPANY OF THE NORTHWEST 
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		DOCKET UT-980389
		
		
		
		ORDER APPROVING FULLY NEGOTIATED INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT FOR SERVICE RESALE
BACKGROUND

   This matter comes before the Washington Utilities and Transportation 
Commission (Commission) for approval of a fully negotiated interconnection 
agreement for service resale under the Telecommunications Act of 1996.  The 
agreement is between Preferred Carrier Services, Inc. (Preferred Carrier 
Services), and United Telephone Company of the Northwest (Sprint).  On November 
12, 1998, the parties filed a joint request for approval of the fully 
negotiated Interconnection Agreement for service reslae between Preferred 
Carrier Services and Sprint for the state of Washington (Agreement).  The 
parties executed the Agreement on August 3, 1998.
   On December 23, 1998, the Commission convened an open public meeting at its 
offices in Olympia, Washington, to consider the request for approval of the 
Agreement.  At the open meeting, the Commission approved the Agreement as 
submitted.

 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. Section 252(e)(A)(1) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Act), requires 
parties to fully negotiated agreements to submit the agreement to the 
Commission for approval. Section 252(e)(2)(A) states that the Commission may 
only reject an agreement (or any portion thereof) adopted by negotiation if it 
finds that:

  (i)  the agreement (or any portion thereof) discriminates against a  
telecommunications carrier not a party to the agreement; or
  (ii)  the implementation of such agreement or portion is not consistent  with 
the public interest, convenience, and necessity.

  3. Sprint is engaged in the business of furnishing telecom- munications 
services, including, but not limited to, basic local exchange service within 
the state of Washington.
  4. Preferred Carrier Services is authorized to provide intrastate 
interexchange and local exchange telecommunications services in the state of 
Washington.
  5. The parties filed a joint request for approval of an Inter- connection 
Agreement for service resale on November 12, 1998.
  6. The parties voluntarily negotiated the entire Agreement.
  7. The Agreement does not discriminate against any other telecommunications 
carrier.
  8. The Agreement will facilitate local exchange competition in the state of 
Washington by enabling Preferred Carrier Services to enter the local exchange 
market and increase customer choices for local exchange services. The 
provisions of the Agreement are consistent with the public interest, 
convenience, and necessity.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

  1. The Commission has jurisdiction over the subject matter and all parties to 
this proceeding.
  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 Section 252(e).
  4. The laws, regulations, and Commission Orders of Washington shall govern 
the construction and interpretation of the Agreement.  The Agreement shall also 
be subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission and the Washington courts.

ORDER

  THE COMMISSION ORDERS:
  1. The Agreement for network interconnection between United Telephone Company 
of the Northwest, and Preferred Carrier Services, Inc., which the parties 
executed on August 3, 1998, is approved.
  2. In the event that the parties revise, modify or amend the agreement 
approved herein, the revised, modified, or amended agreement shall be deemed to 
be a new negotiated agreement under the Telecommunications Act and shall be 
submitted to the Commission for approval, pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 252(e)(1) and 
relevant provisions of state law, prior to taking effect.
  3. The laws, regulations, and Commission Orders of Washington shall govern 
the construction and interpretation of the Agreement.  The Agreement shall also 
be subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission and the Washington courts.
  DATED at Olympia, Washington, and effective this 23rd day of December, 1998.

  WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION


      ANNE LEVINSON, Chair



      RICHARD HEMSTAD, Commissioner



      WILLIAM R. GILLIS, Commissioner