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PLEASE NOTE ORDER OPENING DOCKET FOR TC97-150 AT END OF THIS FILING

South Dakota Public Utilities Commission

State Capitol 500 E. Capitol
Pierre, SD 57501-5070
Phone: (800) 332-1782
Fax: (605) 773-3809

These are the telecommunications service filings that the Commission has received for the period of: 08/22/97 through 08/28/97

If you need a complete copy of a filing faxed, overnight expressed, or mailed to you, please contact Delaine Kolbo within five days of this filing.

REQUEST FOR CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY

TC97-148 Application by WorldCom Technologies,Inc. for a Certificate of Authority to operate as a telecommunications company within the state of South Dakota. (Staff: DJ/KC)

"WorldCom Technologies will provide the same services that WorldCom, Inc. and MFS Intelnet of South Dakota, Inc. currently provide, including MTS, WATS, 800, calling card and debit card services, all at the same rates, terms and conditions as are currently available, statewide. In the near future, WorldCom Technologies will also begin providing local exchange and exchange access services."

Date Filed: 08/25/97
Intervention Deadline: 09/12/97

TC97-044 Application by Primus Telecommunications Inc. to Amend its Certificate of Authority to operate as a telecommunications company within the state of South Dakota. (Staff: TS/CH)

"Primus ... petitions the ... Commission ... to authorize it to [offer] prepaid debit card services within the state .... Primus is in the process of updating and revising its debit card offerings nationwide and will file its proposed South Dakota tariff revisions shortly. Primus has the financing and capital necessary to provide prepaid debit card service to subscribers in the state of South Dakota."

Date Filed: 08/22/97
Intervention Deadline: 09/12/97

INVESTIGATION OPENED

TC97-150 The Commission has opened this docket to investigate the Lifeline and Link Up Programs in South Dakota. The order opening the investigation may be found below. (Staff: CB/KC)

Opened: 08/28/97
Comments Due: 09/12/97

EMERGING COMPETITIVE TELECOMMUNICATIONS FILING

TC97-147 U S WEST Communications filed "to revise the method of toll rounding for Message Toll Service. Currently when a computed rate results in a fractional charge, it is rounded down. This revision rounds to the closest cent. U S WEST Communications intends to implement this change on September 18, 1997." (Staff: TS/CH)

Date Filed: 08/22/97
Intervention Deadline: 09/05/97

NEGOTIATED INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT FILED

TC97-149 Sprint Communications Company, L.P. filed for approval by the Commission the negotiated terms for interconnection, resale and unbundled elements. agreement between Sprint and U S WEST Communications. Any person wishing to comment on the parties' request for approval may do so by filing written comments with the Commission and the parties to the agreement no later than September 17, 1997. Parties to the agreement may file written responses to the comments no later than October 6, 1997. (Staff: CH)

Date Filed: 08/27/97
Responses Due: 09/17/97

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BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

IN THE MATTER OF THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE LIFELINE AND LINK UP PROGRAMS

ORDER OPENING DOCKET

TC97-150

A August 18, 1997, regularly scheduled meeting, the Public Utilities Commission (Commission) voted to open a docket concerning the Federal Communications Commission's Report and Order on Universal Service regarding the Lifeline and Link Up programs. In its Report and Order, the FCC decided that it would provide for additional federal support in the amount of $1.75, above the current $3.50 level. However, in order for a state's Lifeline consumers to receive the additional $1.75 in federal support, the state commission must approve that reduction in the portion of the intrastate rate paid by the end user. 47 C.F.R. § 54.403(a). Additional federal support may also be received in an amount equal to 1/2 of any support generated from the intrastate jurisdiction, up to a maximum of $7.00 in federal support. 47 C.F.R. § 54.403(a). A state commission must file or require the carrier to file information with the administrator of the federal universal service fund demonstrating that the carrier's Lifeline plan meets the criteria set forth in 47 C.F.R. § 54.401.

The Commission decided to accept written comments from interested persons and entities concerning how the Commission should implement the FCC's rules on the Lifeline and Link Up programs. In their written comments, interested persons and entities should comment on the following questions:

1. Whether the Commission should approve intrastate rate reductions to allow consumers eligible for Lifeline support to receive the additional $1.75 in federal support?

2. Whether the Commission should set up a state Lifeline Program to fund further reductions in the intrastate rate paid by the end user?

3. Whether the Commission should modify the existing Lifeline or Link Up Programs?

4. Shall the Commission file or require the carrier to file information with the administrator of the federal universal service fund demonstrating that the carrier's Lifeline plan meets the criteria set forth in 47 C.F.R. § 54.401 (d)?

Interested persons and entities may provide additional comments on any other issues concerning the Lifeline and Link up programs. Written comments shall be filed with the Commission or before September 12, 1997. It is therefore

ORDERED, that interested persons and entities may provide written comments on the above listed questions as well as any other issues concerning the Lifeline and Link up programs on or before September 12, 1997.

Dated at Pierre, South Dakota, this 28th day of August, 1997.

BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION
___________________________________
JAME A. BURG, Chairman
___________________________________
PAM NELSON, Commissioner
___________________________________
LASKA SCHOENFELDER, Commissioner

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
The undersigned hereby certifies that this document has been served today upon all parties of record in this docket, as listed on the docket service list, by facsimile or by first class mail, in properly addressed envelopes, with charges prepaid thereon.
By:___________________________________
Date:_________________________________
(OFFICIAL SEAL)