Telecommunication Services Updates

Wireline Competition Bureau Approves Compliance Plans

December 31, 2008. The FCC Wireline Competition Bureau approved, on December 31, 2008, the compliance plans for Verizon, Qwest, and AT&T which were required as a condition of forebearance. The compliance plans describe in detail how the carriers will continue to fulfill, after forebearance, their statutory and regulatory obligations.

On April 24, 2008, the Commission had conditionally granted AT&T’s petitions (which included the former BellSouth) for forbearance from Section 220(a)(2) of the Communications Act and various other rules. The grant was conditioned on Wireline Competition Bureau's approval of a compliance plan to be filed by AT&T describing in detail how it will continue to fulfill its statutory and regulatory obligations, including Sections 272(e)(3) and 254(k), and the conditions of the AT&T Cost Assignment Forbearance Order. On September 6, 2008, the Commission extended the same relief with the same conditions to Verizon and Qwest.

On December 12, 2008, the Commission granted AT&T, Verizon and Qwest forbearance from the obligation to file Automated Reporting Management Information System (ARMIS) Reports 43-01, 43-02, and 43-03, with the condition that the carriers obtain approval of the compliance plans required by the AT&T Cost Assignment Forbearance Order and Verizon/Qwest Cost Assignment Forbearance Order. These complaince plans have now been approved.