*Pages 1--3 from Microsoft Word - 30512* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information: (202) 418- 0500 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY: (888) 835- 5322 DA 03- 2679 Released: August 18, 2003 PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED FOR JOINT PETITION OF QWEST, BELLSOUTH, AND SBC FOR EXPEDITED FORBEARANCE FROM THE COMMISSION’S CURRENT PRICING RULES FOR THE UNBUNDLED NETWORK ELEMENT PLATFORM WC Docket No. 03- 189 COMMENTS: September 18, 2003 REPLY COMMENTS: October 3, 2003 On July 31, 2003, Qwest Corporation, BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc., and SBC Communications Inc. (collectively “Joint Petitioners”) filed a petition for expedited forbearance, pursuant to section 10 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, 47 U. S. C. § 160, requesting the Commission “to forbear from its decision permitting Unbundled Network Element- Platform (“ UNE- P”) carriers to collect per- minute access charges from long distance operators and from applying its current Total Element Long Run Incremental Cost (“ TELRIC”) pricing rules to UNE- P.” 1 In addition, the Joint Petitioners note that the Verizon Telephone Companies submitted a forbearance petition on July 1, 2003, and that the Joint Petitioners “seek exactly the same relief requested in the Verizon Petition.” 2 We seek comment on the BOC UNE- P Pricing Petition. Although Qwest, BellSouth, and SBC are the only petitioners, the relief requested and the grounds therefor are identical to those in the Verizon Petition. Accordingly, we request that interested parties comment upon the scope of the BOC UNE- P Pricing Petition, in particular whether, why, and to what extent we should consider whether the requested relief meets the statutory forbearance criteria for local exchange carriers in addition to the Joint Petitioners. To the extent that a party comments on this issue, we 1 Joint Petition for Forbearance From the Current Pricing Rules for the Unbundled Network Element Platform, Joint Petition of Qwest Corporation, BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. and SBC Communications Inc. for Expedited Forbearance at 1 (filed July 31, 2003) (“ BOC UNE- P Pricing Petition”). 2 Id. at 2 (citing Petition of the Verizon Telephone Companies for Forbearance From the Current Pricing Rules for the Unbundled Network Element Platform, WC Docket No. 03- 157, Petition for Expedited Forbearance of the Verizon Telephone Companies (filed July 1, 2003), modified by Letter from Karen Zacharia, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Verizon to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC (July 23, 2003) (collectively “Verizon Petition”). 1 3 The documents may also be purchased from Qualex International, telephone (202) 863- 2893, facsimile (202) 863- 2898. This matter shall be treated as a “permit- but- disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules. See 47 C. F. R. §§ 1.1200, 1.1206. Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentations must contain summaries of the substance of the presentations and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one- or two- sentence description of the views and arguments presented generally is required. See 47 C. F. R. § 1.1206( b). Other rules pertaining to oral and written ex parte presentations in permit- but- disclose proceedings are set forth in section 1.1206( b) of the Commission’s rules, 47 C. F. R. § 1.1206( b). For further information, contact Jeremy D. Marcus, Pricing Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, (202) 418- 1520. - FCC - 3