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Oregon 2004
Interim Transition Adjustment Mechanism Adopted
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
2003
Revised Modified Protective Order
Order
Order
Standard Protective Order
Standard Protective Order
Order
Order
2001
Order
Order
Order
2000
Phase IV Order
Phase I of the Oregon Universal Service (OUS) program was completed in October, 1995. Phase II saw its conclusion in March, 1998. Phase III, which dealt with OUS administrative issues, was resolved in March, 1999. In this most recent Phase IV order, the Public Utility Commission of Oregon (Commission) adopted a cost proxy model, established input values to the model, established a benchmark for basic telephone service, set the size of the OUS fund, selected a mechanism for ascertaining high-cost areas, and resolved many other issues necessary to get the OUS program operational. This order was issued in compliance with legislative bill SB 622 which directed to Commission to create a competitively neutral and nondiscriminatory universal service fund. In this proceeding, the parties involved supported several cost models and urged the Commission to adopt their favorite model. While AT&T and MCI, for example, supported the Hatfield Model, Staff supported a modified version of the FCC's Synthesis Model (FCC-SM). Estimates of the costs to provide basic telephone service presented by USWC and GTE were significantly higher than cost estimates presented by AT&T and MCI. Staff’s cost estimates lied between the high and low estimates provided by those parties. After receiving these recommendations, the Commission reached a conclusion on 14 universal service-related issues. The Commission found that a forward-looking economic cost model was the most appropriate for use and specifically settled on the FCC's synthesis model with Staff-recommended changes. It set an approximate cost of $21.00 per line per month as a reasonable estimate for the non-rural carriers involved in this proceeding. It elected to set the support area at the ILEC wire center level. It found that wire centers were geographically distinct, and allowed a reasonable deaveraging of study area costs by urban, suburban, and rural communities. And, among other conclusions, the Commission agreed with USWC, GTE, OECA, and Staff that the OUS Program should support all residential and business basic local exchange lines. The Commission established a process by which it could review the cost model used in order to make the OUS program as fair, competitively neutral, nondiscriminatory, and reasonable as possible.
This order is only one of many initiatives designed to encourage the development of a fair and competitive industry that provides telecommunications services at reasonable and affordable rates. This order focuses on support for high-cost areas and is organized around the issues specified for determination in this phase of the proceeding by the parties and the presiding Administrative Law Judge.
Order
Order Adopting Policies and Decisions
Order Suspending Tariff Filings
Order
Order No. 00-190
This docket began in December 1995, when U S WEST Communications, Inc., (USWC) submitted its general rate filing with the Commission pursuant to the terms of the Alternative Form of Regulation (AFOR) adopted by the Commission in 1991. By Order No. 97-171, the Commission rejected USWC's requested increase and instead ordered a revenue reduction of $97.4 million and a refund of $102 million, retroactive to May 1, 1996. At present, USWC's ratepayers have received no refund, although the Commission ordered one nearly three years ago. On August 5, 1999, Staff and USWC reached a settlement in principle. They drafted a Stipulation that was executed on September 9, 1999.
The Stipulation consisted of three parts: (A.) An agreement on procedures to implement the Stipulation; (B.) A description of and procedures for distributing the refund; and (C.) A description of and procedures for implementing a temporary bill credit pending implementation of a final rate design in UT 125.
Order opening an Investigation into Geographic Rate Deaveraging for UNE's
Order Granting US West's Petition to Exempt DS3 Service from Regulation, with Conditions
1999
Order Disposition: Tariff Adopted as Filed
Order Disposition: Order of Rulemaking Adopted
Order Disposition: Investigation Opened
Order Disposition: Administration Issues Resolved
Arbitrator's Decision
Order Disposition: Agreement Adopted
1998
Order
Order Disposition: Reconsideration Issues Resolved
Order Adopting Amendment and Stipulation
Order Authorizing Depreciation Rates
Order
Order Adopting Proposed Amendments and Rules
Order
1997
Order
Order
Order Adopting Preapplication Procedures
Disposition: Rate of Return Authorized; Refund Ordered
In the current order, the Commission reduces USWC's revenue requirement by $97.4 million; adopts an authorized rate of return for USWC of 10.2 percent; and orders USWC to refund $102 million to ratepayers.
Order Adopting Policy
Order Requiring Filing and Implementation of Dialing Parity Plans
Order Opening an Investigation of Issues Concerning Universal Service Requirements for Educational Providers
Order Opening an Investigation of Issues Concerning Universal Service Requirements for Rural Healthcare Providers
Order
1996
Order Opening an Investigation and Terminating a Workgroup
Order
Order
Before the Public Utility Commission of Oregon
On February 8, 1996, TCG Oregon filed a request for negotiation of an interconnection agreement with U S WEST. On July 17, 1996, TCG filed a petition with the Public Utility Commission of Oregon for arbitration of the agreement pursuant to 251 and 252 the Telecommunications Act of 1996. On September 16, 1996, the parties jointly filed a base contract entitled "Joint Submission of Documents." The Base Contract sets out agreed-upon language for several issues. It also designated those issues that were still in dispute between the parties. On October 15, 1996, U S WEST filed a "Last Best Offer" in which it stated that the Base Contract "cannot be a part of U S WEST's Last Best Offer." Instead, U S WEST offered an entirely different contract ("new contract") and asked that the Commission "implement the terms and conditions of that agreement in this arbitration."
TCG did not address the wording of U S WEST's new contract at the hearing or in its brief and Last Best Offer because it was not aware that U S WEST would attempt to substitute the new contract for the Base Contract. The Arbitrator adopts and approves the Base Contract's wording on the agreed-upon issues and will not consider U S WEST's alternative wording set out in the new contract. U S WEST's new contract is not considered.
Before the Public Utility Commission of Oregon
Eleven audit sessions were held over a period of four months in early 1996 to allow Staff, U S WEST, and other parties to the proceeding to review the details of the cost studies and other issues presented by U S WEST's filing. On May 13 and 14, 1996, the parties held settlement meetings. U S WEST presented a draft Stipulation. Following additional negotiations, Staff and U S WEST signed a final Stipulation. All other parties declined to sign the Stipulation. The Stipulation entered into between Staff and U S WEST resolves all issues between those two parties. Among other matters, it concludes that the cost models filed by U S WEST in this matter conform to the cost principles in UM 351 and that the building block cost studies will be used in the rate design portion of docket UT 125. If the Commission adopts the Stipulation in its entirety, U S WEST agrees to "recast and resubmit its building block cost studies in accordance with the terms of this stipulation. . . ." and also provides that parties may petition the Commission for changes to the stipulation if the rapidly evolving nature of the industry merits such changes.
he provisions of the Stipulation, and a description of the signatory parties' intentions for the provisions, are summarized below. Following the outline of the Stipulation is an analysis of the specific and general arguments for and against portions of the Stipulation. The Commission's disposition of the issues follows the discussion.
Order Decreasing Residential Services Protection Fund Surcharge
Order Opening an Investigation into Telephone Dialing Parity in Oregon
Order
Before The Public Utility Commission of Oregon
On May 21, 1996, U S WEST filed an application for reconsideration of Order No. 96-079, pursuant to ORS 759.180. On June 14, 1996, MCI, AT&T, and Electric Lightwave, filed a joint response to the application. On June 28, 1996, USWC filed a motion to strike the joint response. MCI responded on July 9, 1996. MCI gave good and sufficient cause to deny USWC's motion. The motion to strike is denied.
In this order, the Commission also denies USWC's application for reconsideration.
Before The Public Utility Commission of Oregon
In this proceeding, MCI Metro Access Transmission Services, seeks an order compelling U S West Communications, to provide interconnection for the provision of local telecommunications service. MCI Metro contends that it has been unable to negotiate an interconnection agreement with USWC that meets the terms and conditions of Orders No. 96-021 and 92-129 and requests Commission resolution of this issue.
Before the Public Utility Commission of Oregon
On March 11, 1996, MCI Metro, filed a motion for an order compelling U S WEST , to provide interconnection for the provision of local exchange services. In the motion, MCI Metro contends that it has been unable to negotiate an interconnection agreement with USWC and seeks Commission resolution of the dispute on an expedited basis. On March 26, 1996, USWC filed an answer to MCI Metro's motion. It contends that USWC has been and is willing to negotiate with MCI Metro with respect to interconnection and that MCI Metro's motion to compel is an improper interference with that process. USWC also argues that the Commission does not have jurisdiction to resolve the dispute unless it makes a factual determination that an impasse exists in the negotiation process.
The Commission establishes jurisdiction, and resolves the dispute in this order.
Before The Public Utility Commission of Oregon
On March 8, 1994, the Commissioninitiated this investigation into collocation rate schedules filed by U S WEST, United Telephone, Pacific Telecom,, and GTE Northwest. Order No. 94-490. The companies filed the rate schedules on February 4, 1994, pursuant to a direction from the Commission that the companies comply with the requirements of the Commission's Open Network Architecture rules. OAR 860-35-110 et seq. At its March 8, 1994, public meeting, the Commission allowed the collocation schedules to go into effect subject to refund. Parties to this case are USWC, United, PTI, GTE, and Commission Staff. MCI, Electric Lightwave,, AT&T, Oregon Cable Television Association, and McCaw Cellular intervened. The Commission's Open Network Architecture rules require local exchange companies to unbundle their local exchange and exchange access services. In OAR 860-35-110, the Commission directed LECs to offer physical and virtual collocation of unbundled services.
In Order No. 94-490, the Commission directed the parties to initiate settlement negotiations. Those discussions resulted in the stipulated agreements discussed.
Before The Public Utility Commission of Oregon
These applications were filed pursuant to ORS 759.050, which authorizes the Commission to certify additional providers of local exchange telecommunications services in the existing service areas of telecommunications utilities if the proposed service is in the public interest. The Commission finds that the applications of Electric Lightwave, Inc., MFS Intelenet of Oregon, Inc., and MCI Metro Access Telecommunications Services, Inc., for authority to provide local exchange service in the service territories of USWC and GTE are in the public interest and should be granted.
Pursuant to this finding the following telephone exchanges are designated as competitive zones under the statute: Burlington, North Plains, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie-Oak Grove, Oregon City, and Portland (USWC exchanges); and Beaverton, Forest Grove, Gresham, Hillsboro, Scholls, Sherwood, Stafford, and Tigard (GTE exchanges).
1995
Order stating that an investigation will be conducted by the Staff of the Public Utility Commission of Oregon
Order No. 95-1103 Adopting Universal Service Plan
Order
1993
Before The Public Utility Commission of Oregon
The rules adopted in this order implement a regulatory framework, known as Open Network Architecture (ONA), for the provision of intrastate enhanced services in Oregon. The rules are contained in a new division, Division 35 of Chapter 860 of the Oregon Administrative Rules. The proposed rules originated with the Commission staff. The proposed rules under consideration in this docket advance two main policy goals: (1) to obtain efficient delivery of enhanced telecommunications services to the public, and (2) to achieve greater competitive equity between providers of telecommunications service.
Energy Orders 
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