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

FRONTIER LOCAL SERVICES, INC.

and

GTE NORTHWEST INCORPORATED 
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		DOCKET UT-980353
		
		
		ORDER APPROVING
		AGREEMENT FOR EXCHANGE AND BILLING OF TERMINATING TRAFFIC
BACKGROUND

   This matter comes before the Washington Utilities and Transportation 
Commission (Commission) for approval of a fully negotiated agreement under the 
Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Act).  The agreement is between Frontier Local 
Services, Incorporated (Frontier Local Services), and GTE Northwest 
Incorporated (GTENW).  On September 23, 1998, the parties filed a joint request 
for approval of the fully negotiated Agreement for the Exchange and Billing of 
Terminating Traffic (Agreement) between Frontier Local Services and GTENW for 
the state of Washington. The parties executed the Agreement on September 15, 
1998.
  On November 16, 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, requires 
parties to fully negotiated agreements to submit the agreement to the 
Docket UT-980353          PAGE 1
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. 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. Frontier Local Services is authorized to provide intrastate interexchange 
telecommunications services and local exchange services within the state of 
Washington.
  5. The parties filed a joint request for approval of the Agreement between 
Frontier Local Services and GTENW on September 23, 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 Frontier Local 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 of 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 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.

 ORDER

  THE COMMISSION ORDERS:
  1. The Agreement for Exchange and Billing of Terminating Traffic between 
Frontier Local Services, Inc., and GTE Northwest Incorporated, which the 
parties executed on September 15, 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 of 1996 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 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 16th day of     November, 
1998.
  WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION



      ANNE LEVINSON, Chair



      WILLIAM R. GILLIS, Commissioner