Western Wireless Corp. filed a complaint against GTE Hawaiian Telephone Co. Inc. seeking an order compelling GTE to implement arbitrated interconnection agreement rates between the companies.
Gene DeJordy, director of regulatory affairs for Western Wireless, said following the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Western Wireless requested that GTE renegotiate its interconnection arrangement with the company. The companies could not reach an agreement and an arbitration process began.
DeJordy said the Hawaiian PUC in December 1996 resolved the issue and approved it two months later. The renegotiated terms were effective at the end of February, he said.
According to Western Wireless’ complaint, GTE has failed to implement the arbitrated interconnection rates and continues to charge transport and termination fees at the pre-arbitration rates. DeJordy said GTE has until today to file a response with the commission.
Officials at GTE had no comment.
In a letter dated Sept. 30 from GTE to Western Wireless, GTE said, “Until existing interconnection arrangements are brought into compliance with the requirements of the 251/252 agreement, such interconnections do not fall under the scope of the approved agreement.”
In its complaint, Western Wireless also asked the commission to assess the maximum penalty of $25,000 per day provided under Hawaii law, for a total of more than $7 million in sanctions.
Also at issue in the complaint is a Standard Billing Alternative Agreement reached Oct. 1, which Western Wireless claims more than doubled its reverse billing rates for land-to-mobile inter-island toll calls.
“A (Commercial Mobile Radio Service) provider must agree to the terms of the SBA dictated by GTE or face complete removal of reverse billing to the detriment of consumers,” says the complaint. “In such a bind, a CMRS provider, even with an effective interconnection agreement, has no choice but to `agree’ to the terms of the SBA.”
Western Wireless asked the commission to suspend for investigation the rates for inter-island toll calls GTE sought to charge in the Oct. 1 SBA.
