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Generic Interconnection Cost and Pricing Dockets

The commission signed an order on Feb. 9, 2005, setting Verizon's rates for wholesale charges to other phone carriers that rent space on the company's lines. The order addresses recurring rates – rates Verizon charges on a monthly or periodic basis for unbundled network elements (UNEs). The decision also created a five-zone rate structure for loops and switching.   This proceeding was the first test nationally for Verizon's newly developed "VzCost" model, a web-based program used to help calculate recurring rates. The commission said the new Verizon model had "merits and demerits." The commission used Verizon's model, but not exclusively, as it also employed a version of an earlier program known as the Hatfield model. (Dockets UT-023003 and UT-033034. See links at the bottom of this page for more information.)  

Background:

  The UTC's "generic cost case" began during the initial round of interconnection arbitrations after passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. It has proceeded through a series of parts to establish cost and prices for interconnection and unbundled network elements. The case has proceeded in phases. In Aug. 2003 the commission began this investigation of non-recurring costs separate from recurring costs. Qwest's issues were removed from the proceeding in Nov. 2003, leaving only Verizon. The commission dismissed part of this proceeding dealing with non-recurring costs for Verizon in Oct 2004. At a recent prehearing conference, several participants said they no longer wished to go forward with this proceeding given major changes and uncertainties in telecommunications regulation. Given the difficulty of developing a record if the primary parties did not participate, the commission dismissed the proceeding without prejudice. (Docket UT-033034. See document links below for more information.)   The commission approved a settlement agreement submitted by Qwest, Commission Staff and AT&T on May 11, 2004. Under the agreement, Qwest agreed to implement five different rates for using the company's lines in different parts of the state. The proposed settlement resolves remaining Qwest issues, so only Verizon's costs are still at issue in the case. (Docket UT-023003. For more information, see document links for this docket below).   In approving the agreement, the commission said that rates in the settlement will move prices toward costs in all areas of the state. "Accurate pricing provides carriers the best information to rely on in making decisions whether to invest in facilities to serve a given geographic area." Qwest agreed to implement the five-zone loop-rates shown below:   Zone 1 $11.26
Zone 2 $13.63
Zone 3 $16.92
Zone 4 $28.23
Zone 5 $67.77  

Second Phase, Generic Cost and Pricing

The second generic proceeding (Docket UT-003013) was to determine costs and prices for network elements that were not included in the initial proceeding, and to address issues left unresolved in that proceeding. This proceeding was also divided into several phases, referred to as "parts."

  The UTC issued its Part A Order (13th Supplemental), which determined prices for line sharing, operations support systems and collocation, on January 31, 2001, and issued a corrected order on November 6, 2001 (27th Supplemental Order).   The UTC issued its Part B Order (32nd Supplemental) on June 21, 2002. It addresses issues of line splitting, line sharing over fiber loops, OSS, loop conditioning, reciprocal compensation, and nonrecurring and recurring rates for some unbundled network elements.   Part C, which was to address microwave collocation issues, was was cancelled June 14, 2001, after parties reached agreement on rates. The UTC held evidentiary hearings in Part D May 6-10, 2002, and issued its final order on Part D (44th Supplemental) on December 20, 2002.   

Initial Generic Cost and Pricing Docket

  The UTC's initial generic cost and pricing proceeding (Docket UT-960369) established the cost and prices for unbundled network elements (UNE) including the unbundled loop. The primary orders from this proceeding are listed below:  

Phase I: Costs

The UTC completed the cost phase of the proceeding in 1998. The cost determinations are in these orders:

Phase II: Prices

The second phase of the proceeding established statewide average prices. The UTC completed this phase in 1999. The price determinations are in these orders:

Phase III: Deaveraging 

The third phase of the proceeding established deaveraged prices for interconnection and unbundled network elements. The UTC issued its decision in this phase on May 4, 2000, and an order on reconsideration on December 15, 2000.