Federal Communications Commission DA 07-3608 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 ) ) ) ) ) WC Docket No. 06-172 ) ) ORDER Adopted: August 15, 2007 Released: August 15, 2007 By the Associate Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau: 1. In this Order, pursuant to section 10(c) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the Act),1 we extend by 90 days the date by which the petitions requesting forbearance, filed by Verizon Telephone Companies (Verizon),2 shall be deemed granted in the absence of a Commission decision that the petition fails to meet the standards for forbearance under section 10(a) of the Act.3 2. On September 6, 2006, Verizon filed six separate petitions requesting that the Commission forbear from applying to Verizon certain obligations in the Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Providence, and Virginia Beach Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). Specifically, Verizon seeks forbearance4 from loop and transport unbundling obligations pursuant to section 251(c) of the Act; Part 61 dominant carrier tariffing requirements; Part 61 price cap regulations; Computer III requirements including CEI and ONA requirements; and dominant carrier requirements arising under section 214 of the Act and Part 63 of the Commission’s rules concerning the processes for acquiring lines, discontinuing services, assignment or transfers of control, and acquiring affiliations.5 1 47 U.S.C. § 160(c). 2 See Petition of the Verizon Telephone Companies for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) in the Boston Metropolitan Statistical Area, WC Docket No. 06-172 (filed Sept. 6, 2006) (Verizon Boston Petition); Petition of the Verizon Telephone Companies for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) in the New York Metropolitan Statistical Area, WC Docket No. 06-172 (filed Sept. 6, 2006) (Verizon New York Petition); Petition of the Verizon Telephone Companies for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Statistical Area, WC Docket No. 06-172 (filed Sept. 6, 2006) (Verizon Philadelphia Petition); Petition of the Verizon Telephone Companies for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area, WC Docket No. 06-172 (filed Sept. 6, 2006) (Verizon Pittsburgh Petition); Petition of the Verizon Telephone Companies for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) in the Providence Metropolitan Statistical Area, WC Docket No. 06-172 (filed Sept. 6, 2006) (Verizon Providence Petition); Petition of the Verizon Telephone Companies for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) in the Virginia Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area, WC Docket No. 06-172 (filed Sept. 6, 2006) (Verizon Virginia Beach Petition) (collectively, Verizon Petitions). 3 47 U.S.C. § 160(a). 4 See Verizon Boston Petition at 3-4 n.3; Verizon New York Petition at 4 n.3; Verizon Philadelphia Petition at 4 n.3; Verizon Pittsburgh Petition at 3 n.3; Verizon Providence Petition at 3-4 n.3; Verizon Virginia Beach Petition at 3-4 n.3. 5 47 U.S.C. §§ 214, 251(c); 47 C.F.R. §§ 51.319(a), (b), (e), 61.32-61.33, 61.41-61.49, 61.58-61.59, 63.03-63.04, 63.60-63.66. In the Matter of Petitions of Verizon Telephone Companies for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160 in the Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Providence, and Virginia Beach Metropolitan Statistical Areas Federal Communications Commission DA 07-3608 2 3. Section 10(c) of the Act states that a petition for forbearance shall be deemed granted if the Commission does not deny the petition for failure to meet the requirements for forbearance under section 10(a) within one year after the Commission receives it, unless the Commission extends the one-year period.6 The Commission may extend the initial one-year period by an additional 90 days if the Commission finds that an extension is necessary to meet the requirements of section 10(a).7 4. The Verizon Petitions under review raise significant questions regarding whether forbearance from application of section 251(c), certain of the Commission’s dominant carrier regulations and Computer III requirements, regarding Verizon’s provision of telecommunications services in the Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Providence, and Virginia Beach MSAs meets the statutory requirements set forth in section 10(a). The Bureau thus finds that a 90-day extension is warranted under section 10(c). 5. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to section 10 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. § 160, and authority delegated under sections 0.91 and 0.291 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.91, 0.291,8 the date on which the petitions seeking forbearance filed by Verizon shall be deemed granted, in the absence of a Commission denial of the petitions for failure to meet the statutory standards for forbearance, is extended to December 5, 2007. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Marcus Maher Associate Chief Wireline Competition Bureau 6 47 U.S.C. § 160(c). 7 See, e.g., Petition of Ameritech Corporation for Forbearance from Enforcement of Section 275(a) of the Communications Act of 1934, as Amended, CC Docket No. 98-65, Order, 14 FCC Rcd 6415 (CCB 1999). 8 See 47 U.S.C. § 155(c).