Federal Communications Commission DA 13-268
Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C.  20554
In the Matter of
Petition of CenturyLink for Forbearance
Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) from 
Dominant Carrier and Certain Computer 
Inquiry Requirements on Enterprise 
Broadband Services
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WC Docket No. 12-60
ORDER
Adopted:  February 22, 2013 Released:  February 22, 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 
CenturyLink 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 23, 2012, CenturyLink filed a petition requesting that the Commission 
forbear from “dominant carrier regulation and the Computer Inquiry tariffing requirement with respect to 
its packet-switched and optical transmission services” for those services subject to the regulations.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 subsection 10(a) 
within one year after the Commission receives it, unless the one-year period is extended by the 
Commission.4 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 subsection 10(a).5
3. The CenturyLink Petition raises significant questions regarding whether forbearance 
from application of certain statutory and regulatory requirements for CenturyLink’s provision of 
telecommunications services meets the statutory requirements set forth in section 10(a).  Further, on 
December 7, 2012, CenturyLink filed an ex parte letter with the Commission providing new data 
regarding its revenues and competition related to its forbearance request.6 We conclude that additional 
time is required to fully examine whether the forbearance requested by CenturyLink meets the statutory 
  
1 See 47 U.S.C. § 160.
2 47 U.S.C. § 160(a), (c); Petition of CenturyLink for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. §160(c) from Dominant 
Carrier and Certain Computer Inquiry Requirements on Enterprise Broadband Services, WC Docket No. 12-60
(filed Feb. 23, 2012) (CenturyLink Petition).
3 CenturyLink Petition at 1, 9-10.  On March 6, 2012, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) sought comment 
on CenturyLink’s petition.  Pleading Cycle Established for Comments on CenturyLink Petition for Forbearance 
from Dominant Carrier and Certain Computer Inquiry Requirements on Enterprise Broadband Services, WC 
Docket No. 12-60, Public Notice, 27 FCC Rcd 2306 (2012).
4 47 U.S.C. § 160(c).
5 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).
6 See Letter from Melissa Newman, CenturyLink, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 12-60 
(filed Dec. 7, 2012).
Federal Communications Commission DA 13-268
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requirements set forth in section 10(a) of the Act.  A 90-day extension is therefore necessary under 
section 10(c) of the Act.7
4. ACCORDINGLY, IT IS ORDERED, 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 and 0.291, that the date on which the petition seeking forbearance 
filed by CenturyLink 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 24, 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 47 U.S.C. § 160(c).