Federal Communications Commission DA 13-172
Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
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) WC Docket No. 12-61
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)
ORDER
Adopted:  February 7, 2013 Released:  February 7, 2013
By the 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 petition requesting forbearance filed by the United 
States Telecom Association (USTelecom) 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.2
2. On February 16, 2012, USTelecom filed a petition pursuant to section 10 of the Act 
requesting that the Commission forbear from enforcing certain “legacy telecommunications regulations.”3
Specifically, USTelecom seeks forbearance from a variety of statutory provisions and regulations that 
USTelecom characterizes as falling into one of seventeen categories.4 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.5 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).6
3. The USTelecom Petition raises significant questions about whether forbearance from the 
application of numerous statutory and regulatory requirements in the provision of telecommunications 
services meets the statutory requirements set forth in section 10(a).  We conclude that additional time is 
required to fully examine whether the forbearance requested by US Telecom meets the statutory 
requirements set forth in section 10(c) of the Act.   For these reasons, the Bureau finds that a 90-day 
extension is warranted under section 10(c). 
  
1 47 U.S.C. § 160(c).
2 47 U.S.C. § 160(a)(c)); Petition of United States Telecom Association for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 
160(c), WC Docket No. 12-61 (filed Feb. 16, 2012) (USTelecom Petition).
3 USTelecom Petition at 3.  
4 USTelecom Petition. On March 8, 2012, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) sought comment on 
USTelecom’s petition.  Pleading Cycle Established for Comment on United States Telecom Association Petition for 
Forbearance from Certain Telecommunications Regulations, WC Docket No. 12-61, Public Notice, 27 FCC Rcd 
2326 (2012).
5 47 U.S.C. § 160(c).
6 Id.; 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 (Com. Car. Bur. 1999).
In the Matter of
Petition of USTelecom For Forbearance Under 47 
U.S.C. § 160(c) From Enforcement Of Certain 
Legacy Telecommunications Regulations
Federal Communications Commission DA 13-172
2
4. 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, 0.291,7 the date on which the petition seeking forbearance filed 
by USTelecom shall be deemed granted, in the absence of a Commission denial of the petition for failure 
to meet the statutory standards for forbearance, IS EXTENDED to May 17, 2013. 
5. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to section 1.102(b)(1) of the Commission’s rules, 
47 C.F.R. § 1.102(b)(1), this order shall be effective upon release. 
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Julie A. Veach
Chief
Wireline Competition Bureau
  
7 See 47 U.S.C. § 160(c).