*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 16650* Federal Communications Commission DA 00- 1125 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20554 May 19, 2000 Mr. Charles Foster Group President SBC Communications, Inc. 175 E. Houston Street San Antonio, TX 78205 RE: SBC/ Ameritech Merger Order, CC Docket No. 98- 141, ASD File No. 99- 49 Dear Mr. Foster: This letter responds to a request for an extension of time related to the development of uniform and enhanced operational support systems (“ OSS”) required under the SBC/ Ameritech Merger Order. 1 As explained below, I grant the requested extension of time for good cause shown. The SBC/ Ameritech Merger Order requires SBC to develop and deploy uniform, electronic OSS throughout its 13- state region. 2 To accomplish this task, the Merger Conditions establish a phased- in approach that starts with SBC’s submission of a publicly- available Plan of Record. 3 Then, in a series of collaborative sessions, SBC and other interested carriers discuss a broad range of OSS issues, including SBC’s OSS interfaces, enhancements, business requirements, a change management process, deployment schedule, and other issues related to SBC’s Plan of Record. 4 Pursuant to the Merger Conditions, SBC completed and made available its Plan of Record on March 6, 2000, which completed Phase I under the Merger Conditions. 5 Under a Common Carrier Bureau (“ Bureau”) ruling, the Phase II collaborative sessions started on April 10, 2000. 6 On May 11, 2000, the Bureau granted a joint request for an extension of time so that, under the revised timeline, the collaborative sessions were scheduled to conclude on May 17, 2000. 7 1 Applications of Ameritech Corp., Transferor, and SBC Communications, Inc., Transferee, For Consent to Transfer Control of Corporations Holding Commission Licenses and Lines Pursuant to Sections 214 and 310( d) of the Communications Act and Parts 5, 22, 24, 25, 63, 90, 95, and 101 of the Commission’s Rules, CC Docket 98- 141, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 14 FCC Rcd 14712 (1999) (“ SBC/ Ameritech Merger Order”). 2 SBC/ Ameritech Merger Order at Appendix C, para. 28. 3 Id. In the Plan of Record, SBC provides an overall assessment of its existing OSS interfaces, business processes and rules, hardware capabilities, and data capabilities. In addition, the Plan of Record contains SBC’s plan for developing and deploying uniform application- to- application and graphical user interfaces. 4 Id. at Appendix C, para. 28( b). 5 See Letter from from Marian Dyer, Vice President, SBC Telecommunications, Inc., to Carol Mattey, Deputy Bureau Chief, Common Carrier Bureau, FCC (Mar. 6, 2000). 6 Letter from Carol E. Mattey, Deputy Chief, Common Carrier Bureau, FCC to Charles E. Foster, Group President, SBC Communications, Inc., DA 00- 554 (rel. Mar. 10, 2000). 7 Letter from Carol E. Mattey, Deputy Chief, Common Carrier Bureau, FCC to Charles E. Foster, Group President, 1 Federal Communications Commission DA 00- 1125 2 On May 17, 2000, AT& T Corporation (“ AT& T”), and SBC Communications (“ SBC”) jointly submitted a letter requesting a two- day extension of time for the Phase 2 collaborative sessions. 8 In discussions with the Bureau staff, the parties jointly indicate that they have made significant progress over the past week in revising SBC’s Plan of Record to reflect written agreement on most issues. The parties further indicate that a short extension of time will provide the opportunity to complete revisions to the Plan of Record so that it accurately reflects the discussions held in recent days. Because the additional time will help the parties reach written agreement on SBC’s plan for improving its OSS, I grant the requested 2- day extension of time for Phase II. Based on this extension, the completion date for Phase II is May 19, 2000. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance. You may also contact Anthony Dale in the Common Carrier Bureau at (202) 418- 2260 for further information on this matter. Sincerely, Carol E. Mattey Deputy Chief, Common Carrier Bureau SBC Communications, Inc., DA 00- 1064 (rel. May 11, 2000). 8 Letter from Robert W. Quinn, Director – Federal Government, AT& T Corp.; Marian Dyer, Vice President, SBC Telecommunications, Inc. to Carol E. Mattey, Deputy Chief, Common Carrier Bureau, FCC (May 17, 2000). 2