PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 TTY 202 / 418-2555 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov DA 08-469 February 27, 2008 PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED FOR COMMENTS ON VERIZON NEW ENGLAND’S PETITION FOR FORBEARANCE IN RHODE ISLAND WC Docket No. 08-24 Comments Due: March 28, 2008 Reply Comments Due: April 28, 2008 On February 14, 2008, Verizon New England (Verizon) filed a petition pursuant to section 10 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended,1 requesting that the Commission forbear from applying to Verizon certain obligations in most of its incumbent local service territory in Rhode Island.2 Verizon states it seeks in Rhode Island substantially the same regulatory relief the Commission granted in the Qwest Omaha Forbearance Order.3 Specifically, according to its petition, Verizon seeks forbearance from loop and transport unbundling obligations pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 251(c);4 Part 61 dominant carrier tariffing requirements;5 Part 61 price cap regulation;6 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 1 See 47 U.S.C. § 160. 2 Petition of the Verizon New England for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) in Rhode Island, WC Docket No. 08-24 (filed Feb. 14, 2008) (Verizon Rhode Island Petition). Verizon seeks forbearance in its incumbent local service territory in Rhode Island except the Block Island rate center. See id. at 1 n.1. 3 See Verizon Rhode Island Petition at 1; Petition of Qwest Corporation for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) in the Omaha Metropolitan Statistical Area, Memorandum Opinion and Order, WC Docket No. 04-223, 20 FCC Rcd 19415 (2005), aff'd, Qwest Corp. v. FCC, 482 F.3d 471 (D.C. Cir. 2007) (Qwest Omaha Forbearance Order). 4 Verizon Rhode Island Petition at 3 n.4 (citing 47 C.F.R. § 51.319(a), (b), (e)). 5 Id. (citing 47 C.F.R. §§ 61.32, 61.33, 61.38, 61.58, 61.59). 6 Id. (citing 47 C.F.R. §§ 61.41-61.49). 2 transfers of control, and acquiring affiliations.7 Verizon claims that throughout the state it faces extensive facilities-based competition for mass-market and enterprise customers. Interested parties may file comments on the Verizon Rhode Island Petition on or before March 28, 2008 and reply comment on or before April 28, 2008. All pleadings should reference WC Docket No. 08- 24. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Suite TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. Parties should also send a copy of their filings to the Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554, or by e-mail to CPDcopies@fcc.gov. Parties shall also serve one copy with the Commission’s copy contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc. (BCPI), Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, (202) 488-5300, or via e-mail to fcc@bcpiweb.com. Pursuant to the First Protective Order and Second Protective Order, all parties should submit an electronic copy of filings containing Confidential and Highly Confidential Information to Tim Stelzig (Tim.Stelzig@fcc.gov) and Denise Coca (Denise.Coca@fcc.gov).8 Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. § Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Filers should follow the instructions provided on the website for submitting comments. § For ECFS filers, if multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, filers must transmit one electronic copy of the comments for each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, filers should include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions, filers should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov and include the following words in the body of the message: get form . A sample form and directions will be sent in response. § Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number. Parties are strongly encouraged to file comments electronically using the Commission’s ECFS. 7 Id. (citing 47 C.F.R. §§ 63.03, 63.04, 63.60-63.66). 8 Petition of Verizon New England for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160 in Rhode Island, WC Docket No. 08-24, First Protective Order, DA 08-470 (WCB, rel. Feb. 27, 2008) (First Protective Order); Petition of Verizon New England for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160 in Rhode Island, WC Docket No. 08-24, Second Protective Order, DA 08-471 (WCB, rel. Feb. 27, 2008) (Second Protective Order). . 3 Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first- class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. § The Commission’s contractor will receive hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Suite 110, Washington, DC 20002. The filing hours at this location are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. § Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. § U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554. People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty). Filings and comments are also available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. They may also be purchased from the Commission’s duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY-B402, Washington, DC, 20554, telephone 202-488-5300, facsimile 202-488-5563, or via e-mail at fcc@bcpiweb.com. This Public Notice establishes certain procedural requirements relating to consideration of the Verizon Rhode Island Petition. This matter shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules.9 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.10 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.11 For further information regarding this proceeding, contact Tim Stelzig, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 202-418-0942 or Denise Coca, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 202-418-0574. 9 See 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200, 1.1206. 10 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b). 11 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b).