BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION


In the Matter of Request For Approval of  )
Negotiated Agreement Under the     )
Telecommunications Act of 1996    ) DOCKET UT-990396
Between        )  
        )
TDS TELECOM, INC.     )
        ) ORDER APPROVING  
and        ) NEGOTIATED
         ) AGREEMENT FOR
SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, L.P. ) INTERCONNECTION
  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  )  


BACKGROUND 

  This matter comes before the Washington Utilities and Transportation 
Commission (Commission) for approval of a negotiated agreement for network 
interconnection and the mutual exchange of traffic (Agreement) between TDS 
Telecom, Inc. (TDS), and Sprint Communications Company, L.P. (Sprint), under 
the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Telecom Act).  The parties executed the 
Agreement on August 31, 1999, and a joint request for approval was filed on 
September 27, 1999


MEMORANDUM

   On October 13, 1999, the Commission convened an open public meeting at its 
offices in Olympia, Washington, to consider the joint request for approval of 
the Agreement between TDS and Sprint.  The Commission granted its approval of 
the Agreement.


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) of the Telecom 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 telecommunications 
services, including, but not limited to, basic local exchange service within 
the state of Washington.

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

 5. On September 27, 1999, TDS and Sprint jointly filed with the Commission a 
request for approval of a negotiated “Mutual Traffic Exchange Agreement” 
pursuant to the Telecom Act.

 6. TDS and Sprint 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 TDS 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 laws and regulations of the state of Washington, and Commission orders 
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.

O R D E R

 THE COMMISSION ORDERS:

 1. The Agreement for network interconnection between TDS Telecom, Inc., and 
Sprint Communications Company, L.P., filed on September 27, 1999, 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 and regulations of the state of Washington, and Commission orders 
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 13th day of October, 
1999.

 WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION




      MARILYN SHOWALTER, Chairwoman



      WILLIAM R. GILLIS, Commissioner



      RICHARD HEMSTAD, Commissioner