Federal Communications Commission DA 17-1173
Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
In the Matter of
Petition of AT&T Services, Inc. for Forbearance 
Under 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) from Enforcement of 
Certain Rules for Switched Access Services and 
Toll Free Database Dip Charges
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WC Docket No. 16-363
ORDER
Adopted:  December 5, 2017 Released: December 5, 2017
By the Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau:
1. On September 30, 2016, AT&T Services, Inc., on behalf of its affiliates (collectively, 
AT&T), filed the above-captioned petition for forbearance, requesting that the Commission forbear, 
pursuant to section 10 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, from applying (1) “the tariffing 
requirements of the 1996 Telecommunications Act and its rules as to all tandem switching and tandem-
switched transport charges on all traffic to or from local exchange carriers (LECs) engaged in access 
stimulation under the Commission’s rules” and (2) “rules that permit LECs to tariff and assess per-query 
database dip charges on toll-free calls.”
1
  On November 16, 2017, AT&T submitted a request to withdraw 
its Petition without prejudice to re-filing.
2
  For the reasons below, we grant AT&T’s request to withdraw 
its Petition.
3
2. Contemporaneously with the Motion, AT&T, together with other industry participants,
filed a letter urging the Commission to “adopt rules to require carriers that are engaged in access 
stimulation to bear financial responsibility for all terminating switched transport costs (including both 
flat-rated and usage-sensitive charges) between their end office (or remote or functional equivalent) and 
                                                     
1
Petition of AT&T Services, Inc. for Forbearance Under 47 U.S.C. § 160(c), WC Docket No. 16-363, at 1, 13,18 
(filed Sept. 30, 2016) (Petition).  On November 2, 2016, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) issued a Public 
Notice seeking comment on the Petition.  Pleading Cycle Established for Comments on AT&T Petition for 
Forbearance from Certain Tariffing Rules, WC Docket No. 16-363, Public Notice, 31 FCC Rcd 11935 (WCB Nov. 
2, 2016) (Public Notice).  On August 18, 2016, pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c), the Bureau extended, the deadline 
for Commission action on the Petition to December 29, 2017.  Petition of AT&T for Forbearance Under 47 U.S.C. § 
160(c) from Certain Rules for Switched Access Services and Toll Free Database Dip Charges, WC Docket No. 16-
363, Order, DA 17-789 (WCB Aug. 18, 2017).      
2
Motion to Withdraw Petition for Forbearance, WC Docket No. 16-363 (filed Nov. 16, 2017) (Motion).  
3
47 C.F.R. § 1.59 (requiring Commission approval for to withdraw a forbearance petition when a request to 
withdraw is not filed “prior to the tenth business day after the due date for reply comments announced in the public 
notice”).  The Public Notice established December 19, 2016 as the due date for reply comments; therefore, AT&T 
would have had to file its request to withdraw by January 4, 2017, had it wanted to be able to withdraw the Petition 
without approval.  See Public Notice; 47 C.F.R. § 1.4 (e)(1)-(2), (j) (discussing computation of time with respect to 
holidays).
Federal Communications Commission DA 17-1173
2
the tandem switch to which the terminating carrier requires inbound calls to be routed.”
4
According to the 
letter, “[s]uch rules would resolve a significant component of AT&T’s forbearance petition.”
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3. In 2011, the Commission adopted a policy of bill-and-keep and, as the first step in 
moving to bill-and-keep, adopted changes to the rules to transition terminating end office switching and 
certain transport rate elements to bill-and-keep.
6
  The Commission also sought comment on other rate 
elements, including tandem switching and tandem transport services and originating end office switching 
charges.
7
  More recently, we have asked parties to refresh the record on issues raised by AT&T in its 
Petition.
8
In light of those recent Public Notices and the Commission’s stated policy of moving to bill-
and-keep, we grant this Motion and dismiss the Petition.  
4. ACCORDINGLY, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to section 1.59(b) of the Commission’s 
rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.59(b), and the authority delegated under sections 0.91 and 0.291 of the Commission’s 
rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.91, 0.291, that the request to withdraw the petition of AT&T Services, Inc. and its 
affiliates IS GRANTED and that the petition for forbearance filed on September 30, 2016 IS 
DISMISSED.
5. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to section 1.102(b)(1) of the Commission’s rules, 
47 C.F.R. § 1.102(b)(1), that this order SHALL BE effective upon release. 
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Kris Anne Monteith
Chief
Wireline Competition Bureau
                                                     
4
Letter from Hank Hultquist, Vice President-Federal Regulatory, AT&T Comm’ns, et al., to Marlene H. Dortch, 
Secretary, FCC, CC Docket No. 01-92, WC Docket No. 16-363, at 1 (filed Nov. 16, 2017). 
5
Id. at 2. 
6
See Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking, 26 FCC Rcd 17663, 17676, para. 34 (2011), pets. for review denied sub nom. In re FCC 11-161, 753 
F.3d 1015 (10th Cir. 2014).
7
See id. at 17875-77, paras. 663-66.
8
See Parties Asked to Refresh the Record Regarding 8YY Access Charge Reform, Public Notice, WC Dockets Nos. 
10-90 et al. (June 29, 2017); Parties Asked to Refresh the Record on Intercarrier Compensation Reform Related to 
the Network Edge, Tandem Switching and Transport, and Transit, Public Notice, WC Dockets Nos. 10-90 et al. 
(Sept. 8, 2017).