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UTC extends date to issue Arbitrator's Report and Decision on a request for arbitration between North County Communications Corporation of Washington and Qwest Corporation.

At the March 8 prehearing conference, the Commission determined that a procedural schedule for motions and an evidentiary hearing should be set. The parties agreed on a procedural schedule as set for in Appendix B to Order 05. The Commission issuesd on August 31, 2010, a "Notice of Schedule Revision" to extend the date the Arbitrator will issue its Arbitrator's Report and Decision to October 15, 2010.

The Commission will hold a hearing on the merits of this matter, to begin on Tuesday, July 13, 2010, at 9;30 a.m., in Room 206 of the Commission's headquarters in Olympia, Washington. The hearing will continue, as needed, on Wednesday, July 14, 2010, in the same location.


PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND:
Qwest filed a request for arbitration with the Commission on August 3, 2009, under section 252(b) of the 1996 Telecommunications Act.

The UTC held a prehearing conference on August 31, 2009, on an interconnection dispute between North County Communications of Washington (North County) and Qwest Corporation. Due to a scheduling mistake, Counsel for North County did not appear at the conference. Counsel for North County filed a letter with the Commission, requesting a stay of the proceeding for at least 30 days to allow the companies to negotiate an interconnection agreement without arbitration.

The Commission scheduled a second prehearing conference, see Order 02, for October 7, 2009, but on October 5, the Commission issued a notice rescheduling the prehearing conference to October 20, 2009, at 1:30 p.m. in Room 108 of the Commission's headquarters in Olympia, Washington. See, Order 03 - Prehearing Conference Order.

Pursuant to active settlement negotiations, the Commission scheduled a status conference in the matter for November 20, 2009, at 1:30 p.m., in Room 108. The purpose of the status conference was to have the parties report on the progress of their negotiations and to address procedural matters, including a procedural schedule, if the parties are unable to reach agreement.

The Commission entered Order 04 - Prehearing Conference Order on November 25, 2009. Order 04 states that the parties intend to resolve the final wording of the negotiated interconnection agreement by December 15, 2009. On January 8, 2010, North County filed a letter with the Commission requesting that the it continue the stay in the proceeding for thirty days so that the parties may make a good faith effort to settle some of the remaining issues. The Commission granted the request.

The Commission held a status conference on February 8, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. At that conference, the parties did not appear to have made any progress during the continued period. By notice served February 9, 2010, the parties were directed to continue discussions and file status reports by February 19, 2010, concerning the status of negotiations and provide a list of remaining issues. North County Communications and Qwest filed status reports. The Commission scheduled a prehearing conference for March 9, 2010, at 1:30 p.m., at UTC headquarters in Olympia, Washington, to establish a procedural schedule, to include briefing topics and deadlines as well as a hearing schedule.

The Commission reschedules the prehearing conference scheduled for March 9, 2010, to March 8, 2010, at 8:30 a.m. in Room 212.

(Docket UT-093035, see "Documents" link below for more information).

Posted/updated: 08/31/2010
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