Federal Communications Commission DA 19-664 DA 19-664 Released: July 16, 2019 QUIET PERIOD ANNOUNCED FOR USTELECOM FORBEARANCE PETITION WC Docket No. 18-141 Quiet Period Begins: 11:59 P.M. (EDT) on July 19, 2019 By this public notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau announces the beginning of the two-week quiet period 47 CFR § 1.58; see also Petition to Establish Procedural Requirements to Govern Proceedings for Forbearance Under Section 10 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, WC Docket No. 07-267, Report and Order, 24 FCC Rcd 9543, 9560-61, para. 33 (2009) (Forbearance Procedures Order). relating to a forbearance petition filed by USTelecom on May 4, 2018 seeking “nationwide forbearance from outmoded regulatory mandates that distort competition and investment decisions.” Petition of USTelecom for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. §160(c) to Accelerate Investment in Broadband and Next-Generation Networks, WC Docket No. 18-141 (filed May 4, 2018). The Commission has acted on certain portions of the petition, but other requests for relief remain pending. See Letter from Patrick Halley, Senior Vice President, Policy & Advocacy, USTelecom, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 18-141, at 1 (filed July 1, 2019) (stating that “USTelecom maintains its request for forbearance” from “unbundling obligations for . . . analog voice-grade copper loops” and “avoided cost resale obligations”). The Commission granted forbearance from certain structural and nondiscrimination requirements in April 2019, see Petition of USTelecom for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) to Accelerate Investment in Broadband and Next-Generation Networks et al., WC Docket No. 18-141, Memorandum Opinion and Order, FCC 19-31 (rel. Apr. 15, 2019), and granted forbearance from DS1 and DS3 dedicated interoffice transport unbundling requirements at certain price cap carrier wire centers in July 2019, see Petition of USTelecom for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. §160(c) to Accelerate Investment in Broadband and Next-Generation Networks et al., WC Docket No. 18-141, Memorandum Opinion and Order, FCC 19-66 (rel. July 12, 2019). The Wireline Competition Bureau also granted USTelecom’s requests to withdraw portions of its forbearance petition. See Petition of USTelecom for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) to Accelerate Investment in Broadband and Next-Generation Networks, WC Docket No. 18-141, Order, DA 19-622 (WCB July 2, 2019); Petition of USTelecom for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) to Accelerate Investment in Broadband and Next-Generation Networks, WC Docket No. 18-141, Order, DA 19-573 (WCB June 18, 2019). Section 1.58 of the Commission’s rules governing forbearance petitions under section 10 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, provides for a two-week quiet period before the statutory deadline for Commission action in forbearance proceedings. 47 CFR § 1.58. The statutory deadline for Commission action on USTelecom’s petition is August 2, 2019. Pursuant to section 10(c) of the Act, the Wireline Competition Bureau extended the initial one-year statutory period by an additional 90 days, to August 2, 2019. Petition of USTelecom for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) to Accelerate Investment in Broadband and Next-Generation Networks, WC Docket No. 18-141, Order, 34 FCC Rcd 346 (WCB 2019). Accordingly, the quiet period for this proceeding begins at 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on July 19, 2019, “Absent unusual circumstances, this quiet period will end with the release of a Commission order addressing the forbearance petition[s], or if approved by the Commission, withdrawal of the petition by the petitioner.” Forbearance Procedures Order, 24 FCC Rcd at 9561, para. 34. and all presentations to decision makers concerning USTelecom’s petition are prohibited beginning at that time. 47 CFR §§ 1.58, 1.1203. For further information, please contact Michele Levy Berlove, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202) 418-1477 or via email at Michele.Berlove@fcc.gov. - FCC - 2