Qwest Corporation petitioned the commission on October 20, 2006 to be regulated under an alternate form of regulation. Washington law allows the commission to employ an alternate form of regulation for a telephone company if traditional rate of return, rate base regulation of telecommunications companies proves not to be the most efficient and effective means of achieving the public policy of the state.

Events:
The commission issued an order on July 24 approving the AFOR plan proposed in the settlement, but requiring Qwest to provide a wholesale service quality plan as mentioned in the statute.
Qwest responded with a submittal detailing its wholesale service quality guarantees.
The combined CLECs and the Commission staff filed separate comments.
Qwest responded.
The Commission issued an order on September 6 accepting Qwest's plan provided Qwest continues to offer the QPAP.
Qwest responded, accepting and clarifying the scope of its implementation of the wholesale service quality plan as modified.
The Commission issued an order on September 20, acknowledging Qwest's acceptance but rejecting Qwest’s interpretive commentary.
Qwest responded on October 1, Proceeding with AFOR as approved by Commission and filing proposed customer notice.

Frequently requested documents from the case:

• Pre-filed testimony of Qwest Qwest Testimony
• Pre-filed testimony of Public Counsel Public Counsel Testimony
• Joint AFOR plan of staff, intervenors and Qwest Settlement Plan
• Joint narrative supporting the proposed settlement Narrative
• Commission order approving AFOR with conditions Order 06
• Commission order approving service quality plan with conditions Order 08
• Commission order acknowledging acceptance Order 09