II. The Settlement is Reasonable in Light of the Whole
Record, Consistent With Law, and in the Public Interest

In order for a settlement to be approved by the Commission, the settlement must be: 1) reasonable in light of the whole record; 2) consistent with law; and 3) in the public interest. (See D.04-07-006, PG&E v. Calpine Corp., et al., "Opinion Approving Settlement," mimeo. at 10-15.)

The settlement is reasonable in light of the whole record. The Parties worked together for 18 months fully analyzing Sprint's Pioneer program's billing issues and carefully developed a comprehensive plan to address those issues. The five minor modifications shown in the amended settlement agreement are clear evidence of the parties' attention to detail and commitment to customers' interests. We, therefore, conclude that the settlement agreement is reasonable in light of the record.

The settlement agreement is consistent with the law. No term of the settlement agreement contravenes statutory provisions or prior Commission decisions. The parties reached their settlement in accordance with Article 12 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure.

Approving the settlement agreement is in the public interest because it will bring prompt refunds to customers and allow customers to change plans without incurring additional fees. Furthermore, the Settlement Agreement serves the public interest by expeditiously resolving issues that otherwise would have been litigated. The parties should be commended for their skillful efforts in resolving this matter. Based on the foregoing evaluation criteria, the settlement agreement meets the applicable legal standards.