*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 35114* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 DA 04- 162 January 26, 2004 AT& T AND MCI CIRCUITS TO THE PHILIPPINES REACTIVATED BY GLOBE: SUSPENSION LIFTED ON U. S. CARRIER PAYMENTS TO GLOBE IB Docket No. 03- 38 On March 10, 2003, the International Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted and released an Order, DA 03- 581, finding that six Philippine carriers have engaged in the anticompetitive “whipsawing” of U. S. carriers on the U. S. Philippines route, in violation of the Commission’s International Settlements Policy (ISP). The Bureau found that the Philippine carriers had disrupted the U. S.- Philippine networks of either AT& T Corp. (AT& T) or MCI (formerly WorldCom, Inc.), or both, in retaliation for the refusal of AT& T and WorldCom to agree to the Philippine carriers’ demand for rate increases for termination services on their networks in the Philippines. In light of this finding, the Bureau ordered U. S. carriers to suspend payments to the six Philippine carriers pending restoration of the U. S.- Philippine circuits of AT& T and MCI. The Bureau has since then lifted the suspension for four of these carriers, Bayan Telecommunications Company (Bayantel), Digital Telecommunications Philippines, Inc. (Digitel), Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), upon being informed that these carriers had ceased blocking traffic to U. S. carriers and that circuits were fully restored. 1 1 See AT& T Circuits to the Philippines Reactivated by Digital Telecommunications Philippines, Inc. and Bayan Telecommunications Company: Suspension Lifted on U. S. Carrier Payments to These Carriers, DA 03- 1030 (rel. March 31, 2003); AT& T and MCI Circuits to the Philippines Reactivated by Smart: Suspension lifted on U. S. Carrier Payments to Smart, DA 03- 3664 (rel. November 17, 2003); AT& T and MCI Circuits to the Philippines Reactivated by PLDT: Suspension lifted on U. S. Carrier Payments to PLDT, DA 04- 63 (rel. January 15, 2004). See also Letter from James J. R. Talbot, Senior Attorney, AT& T, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission (filed October 6, 2003); Letter from Scott S. Shefferman, Associate Counsel, MCI, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission (filed November 14, 2003); Letter from Maria Cattafesta, Senior Attorney, Sprint, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission (filed November. 19, 2003); Letter from Patrick J. Donovan, Counsel for 1 2 On January 12, 2004, AT& T informed the Commission that Globe Telecom Inc. (Globe) had ceased all blocking on AT& T’s traffic and that AT& T’s circuits with Globe had been fully restored. 2 On January 22, 2004, MCI informed the Commission that its bilateral circuits with Globe are in service and that Globe has ceased blocking MCI’s traffic. 3 Therefore, all U. S. carriers must now resume making payments for termination services to Globe. U. S. carriers must comply with the other provisions of the Bureau’s March 10, 2003 Order with respect to Globe, including negotiating arrangements with Globe that comply with the Commission’s ISP retroactive to February 1, 2003. The Bureau's March 10, 2003 Order, including the requirement for application of the ISP, is subject to Applications for Review in IB Docket No. 03- 38. Copies of this Notice, status reports, Order, and pleadings are available electronically on the Commission’s web site at www. fcc. gov. For additional information, please contact James Ball, Policy Division, International Bureau, (202) 418- 1460. - FCC - IT& E, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, IB Docket No. 03- 38 (filed Dec. 9, 2003); Letter from James J. R. Talbot, Senior Attorney, AT& T, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission (filed January 12, 2004). 2 See Letter from James J. R. Talbot, Senior Attorney, AT& T, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission (filed January 12, 2004). 3 See Letter from Scott A. Shefferman, Associate Counsel, MCI, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission (filed January 22, 2004). 2