PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 10-1561
Released:  August 20, 2010
QWEST 4 MSA FORBEARANCE PETITIONS WITHDRAWN;
PROCEEDING TERMINATED
WC Docket No. 07-97
On July 25, 2008, the Commission denied four petitions filed by Qwest Corporation (Qwest) 
seeking certain section 10 forbearance relief in the Denver, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Phoenix, and Seattle 
Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs).1 On July 29, 2008, Qwest filed an appeal of the Qwest 4 MSA 
Forbearance Order with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. 
Circuit).  During the pendency of that appeal, on June 19, 2009, the D.C. Circuit issued an opinion, 
remanding the related Verizon 6 MSA Forbearance Order to the Commission.2 Because the Commission 
relied on a substantially similar analytical framework in the Qwest 4 MSA Forbearance Order as in the 
Verizon 6 MSA Forbearance Order, the Commission, on July 17, 2009, filed a motion requesting that the 
D.C. Circuit remand the Qwest 4 MSA Forbearance Order,3 which the court granted on August 5, 2009.4  
Recently, on June 22, 2010, the Commission sought comment on how to address the two pending remand 
proceedings.5  
  
1 Petitions of Qwest Corporation for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) in the Denver, Minneapolis-St. Paul, 
Phoenix, and Seattle Metropolitan Statistical Areas, WC Docket No. 07-97, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 23 FCC 
Rcd 11729, 11730, para. 1 (2008) (Qwest 4 MSA Forbearance Order), remanded, Qwest Corporation v. FCC, No. 
08-1257 (D.C. Cir. Aug. 5, 2009) (Qwest Corporation v. FCC). 
2 Petitions of Verizon Telephone Companies for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) in the Boston, New 
York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Providence and Virginia Beach Metropolitan Statistical Areas, WC Docket No. 06-
172, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 22 FCC Rcd 21293, 21294, para. 1 (2007) (Verizon 6 MSA Forbearance 
Order), remanded, Verizon Tel. Cos. v. FCC, 570 F.3d 294 (D.C. Cir. 2009).  
3 See Motion of the Federal Communications Commission for a Voluntary Remand, No. 08-1257, at 2 (D.C. Circuit, 
filed July 17, 2009).
4 Qwest Corporation v. FCC.  
5 See Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment on Applying the Qwest Phoenix Forbearance Order Analytic 
Framework in Similar Proceedings, WC Docket Nos. 06-172, 07-97, Public Notice, DA 10-1115 (WCB rel. June 
22, 2010).
On August 17, 2010, Qwest withdrew its four petitions for forbearance.6 In light of that action, 
the Qwest 4 MSA remand proceeding is now terminated and WC Docket No. 07-97 is closed effective 
upon release of this public notice. 
For further information, please contact Denise Coca at (202) 418-0574.
  
6 See Letter from Harisha J. Bastiampillai, Senior Attorney, Qwest, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC 
Docket No. 07-97 (filed Aug. 17, 2010).  On August 19, 2010, Qwest filed an erratum clarifying that its withdrawal 
only applies to the 4 petitions and it “has no effect on Qwest’s pending appeal before the United States Court of 
Appeals for the Tenth Circuit of the Order denying the Qwest Phoenix Second Petition for Forbearance.”  Letter 
from Harisha J. Bastiampillai, Senior Attorney, Qwest, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 07-
97 at 3-4 (filed Aug. 19, 2010); see also Petition of Qwest Corporation for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 
160(c) in the Phoenix Arizona Metropolitan Statistical Area, WC Docket No. 09-135, Memorandum Opinion and 
Order, FCC 10-113 (rel. June 22, 2010) (Qwest Phoenix Second Petition for Forbearance), pet. for review pending, 
Qwest Corp. v. FCC, No. 10-9543 (10th Cir. filed July 30, 2010).