ࡱ> npmE@ 'bjbj -UD    ^z D   " ***8"+$F+" N++(,,,---^N`N`N`N`N`N`N$ORR>N ---"--N ,,N///- , 8,^N/-^N//^GP 6L,+ Q{30*.fKhZLN0NKh[RN/[R6L" " [R 6L$--/-----NN" " d d /" " Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of WorldCom, Inc. Complaints Regarding Unauthorized Change of Subscribers Telecommunications Carrier) ) ) ) ) ) ) IC Nos. 01-S52344 01-S58343 01-S61685 01-S63719 01-S63946 01-S64395 01-S66016 01-S66303 01-S66331 01-S67535  ORDER Adopted: May 14, 2003 Released: May 15, 2003 By the Acting Deputy Chief, Policy Division, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau: In this Order, we consider the complaints filed by Complainants alleging that WorldCom, Inc., (WorldCom) changed Complainants telecommunications service providers without obtaining authorization and verification from Complainants in violation of the Commissions rules. We conclude that WorldComs actions did not result in an unauthorized change in Complainants telecommunications service providers and we deny Complainants complaint. In December 1998, the Commission released the Section 258 Order in which it adopted rules to implement Section 258 of the Communications Act of 1934 (Act), as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act). Section 258 prohibits the practice of slamming, the submission or execution of an unauthorized change in a subscribers selection of a provider of telephone exchange service or telephone toll service. In the Section 258 Order, the Commission adopted aggressive new rules designed to take the profit out of slamming, broadened the scope of the slamming rules to encompass all carriers, and modified its existing requirements for the authorization and verification of preferred carrier changes. The rules require, among other things, that a carrier receive individual subscriber consent before a carrier change may occur. Pursuant to Section 258, carriers are absolutely barred from changing a customer's preferred local or long distance carrier without first complying with one of the Commission's verification procedures. Specifically, a carrier must: (1) obtain the subscriber's written or electronically signed authorization in a format that meets the requirements of Section 64.1130 authorization; (2) obtains confirmation from the subscriber via a toll-free number provided exclusively for the purpose of confirming orders electronically; or (3) utilize an independent third party to verify the subscriber's order. The Commission also has adopted liability rules. These rules require the carrier to absolve the subscriber where the subscriber has not paid his or her bill. In that context, if the subscriber has not already paid charges to the unauthorized carrier, the subscriber is absolved of liability for charges imposed by the unauthorized carrier for service provided during the first 30 days after the unauthorized change. Where the subscriber has paid charges to the unauthorized carrier, the Commissions rules require that the unauthorized carrier pay 150% of those charges to the authorized carrier, and the authorized carrier shall refund or credit to the subscriber 50% of all charges paid by the subscriber to the unauthorized carrier. Carriers should note that our actions in this Order do not preclude the Commission from taking additional action, if warranted, pursuant to Section 503 of the Act. We received Complainants complaints alleging that Complainants telecommunications service providers had been changed without Complainants authorization. Pursuant to Sections 1.719 and 64.1150 of our rules, we notified WorldCom of the complaints and WorldCom responded. WorldCom has provided the appropriate documentation to show that Complainants authorized the conversion of their telecommunications service. Therefore, we find that WorldCom has produced clear and convincing evidence of a valid authorized carrier change by Complainants. Therefore, we find that WorldComs actions did not result in an unauthorized change in Complainants telecommunications service. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to Section 258 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 258, and Sections 0.141, 0.361 and 1.719 of the Commissions rules, 47 C.F.R. 0.141, 0.361, 1.719, the complaints filed by Complainants against WorldCom ARE DENIED. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Nancy A. Stevenson, Acting Deputy Chief Policy Division Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau \ APPENDIX A INFORMAL COMPLAINT NUMBER DATE OF COMPLAINT DATE OF CARRIER RESPONSE01-S52344April 22, 2001July 24, 200101-S58343May 26, 2001September 12, 200101-S61685June 5, 2001October 1, 200101-S63719August 24, 2001November 15, 200101-S63946September 20, 2001November 30, 200101-S64395September 18, 2001November 6, 200101-S66016September 5, 2001January 2, 200201-S66303November 26, 2001February 22, 200201-S66331October 15, 2001February 22, 200201-S67535July 16, 2001September 25, 2001  See Appendix A.  See 47 C.F.R. 64.1100 64.1190.  47 U.S.C. 258(a); Telecommunications Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-104, 110 Stat. 56 (1996); Implementation of the Subscriber Carrier Selection Changes Provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996; Policies and Rules Concerning Unauthorized Changes of Consumers Long Distance Carriers, CC Docket No. 94-129, Second Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 14 FCC Rcd 1508 (1998) (Section 258 Order), stayed in part, MCI Company v. FCC, No. 99-1125 (D.C. Cir. May 18, 1999); First Order on Reconsideration, 15 FCC Rcd 8158 (2000); stay lifted, MCI Company v. FCC, No. 99-1125 (D.C. Cir. June 27, 2000); Third Report and Order and Second Order on Reconsideration, 15 FCC Rcd 15996 (2000), Errata, DA No. 00-2163 (rel. Sept. 25, 2000), Erratum, DA No. 00-2192 (rel. Oct. 4, 2000), Order, FCC 01-67 (rel. Feb. 22, 2001); reconsideration pending. Prior to the adoption of Section 258, the Commission had taken various steps to address the slamming problem. See, e.g., Policies and Rules Concerning Unauthorized Changes of Consumers' Long Distance Carriers, CC Docket No. 94-129, Report and Order, 10 FCC Rcd 9560 (1995), stayed in part, 11 FCC Rcd 856 (1995); Policies and Rules Concerning Changing Long Distance Carriers, CC Docket No. 91-64, 7 FCC Rcd 1038 (1992), reconsideration denied, 8 FCC Rcd 3215 (1993); Investigation of Access and Divestiture Related Tariffs, CC Docket No. 83-1145, Phase I, 101 F.C.C.2d 911, 101 F.C.C.2d 935, reconsideration denied, 102 F.C.C.2d 503 (1985).  47 U.S.C. 258(a).  See 47 C.F.R. 64.1120.  47 U.S.C. 258(a).  See 47 C.F.R. 64.1120(c). Section 64.1130 details the requirements for letter of agency form and content for written or electronically signed authorizations. 47 C.F.R. 64.1130.  See 47 C.F.R. 64.1140, 64.1160. Any charges imposed by the unauthorized carrier on the subscriber for service provided after this 30-day period shall be paid by the subscriber to the authorized carrier at the rates the subscriber was paying to the authorized carrier at the time of the unauthorized change. Id.  See 47 C.F.R. 64.1140, 64.1170.  See 47 U.S.C. 503.  See Appendix A.  47 C.F.R. 1.719 (Commission procedure for informal complaints filed pursuant to Section 258 of the Act); 47 C.F.R. 64.1150 (procedures for resolution of unauthorized changes in preferred carrier).  See Appendix A.  See 47 C.F.R. 64.1150(d).  If Complainant is unsatisfied with the resolution of this complaint, Complainant may file a formal complaint with the Commission pursuant to Section 1.721 of the Commissions rules, 47 C.F.R. 1.721. Such filing will be deemed to relate back to the filing date of Complainants informal complaint so long as the formal complaint is filed within 45 days from the date this order is mailed or delivered electronically to Complainant. See 47 C.F.R. 1.719.  (Continued from previous page)  (continued.) Federal Communications Commission DA 03-1661 PAGE 1 PAGE 4 Federal Communications Commission DA 03-1661  -DX> ? 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