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 NEWS  News  media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  TTY  202  /  418-  2555  Fax-  On-  Demand  202  /  418-  2830  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  ftp.  fcc.  gov  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974). 
 FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE:  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT:  September  5,  2002  Michael  Balmoris  202-  418-  0253 
 Email:  mbalmori@  fcc.  gov 
 FCC  CONVENES  FEDERAL-  STATE  JOINT  CONFERENCE  ON  REGULATORY  ACCOUNTING  ISSUES 


 Joint  Conference  to  Review  Adequacy  and  Effectiveness  of  Regulatory  Accounting  and  Related  Reporting  Requirements  of  Phone  Companies 
 Washington,  D.  C.  –  The  Federal  Communications  Commission  (FCC)  today  adopted  an  Order  establishing  a  Federal-  State  Joint  Conference  on  Accounting  Issues.  The  Joint  Conference 
 will  be  charged  with  ensuring  that  regulatory  accounting  data  and  related  information  filed  by  telecommunications  companies  are  adequate,  truthful,  and  thorough. 


 Additionally,  the  Joint  Conference  will  provide  a  forum  for  state  and  federal  policymakers  to  consider,  coordinate,  and  conduct  initiatives  that  will  ensure  that  the  collection 
 and  exchange  of  regulatory  accounting  information  is  adequate  and  effective. 
 The  FCC  prescribes  the  accounting  rules  that  govern  the  manner  in  which  incumbent  local  exchange  carriers  (LECs)  record  and  allocate  their  costs  and  revenues  for  regulatory 
 purposes.  These  rules  are  known  as  the  Uniform  System  of  Accounts  (USOA).  The  FCC  also  maintains  the  Automated  Reporting  Management  Information  System  (ARMIS),  through  which 
 certain  incumbent  LECs  are  required  annually  to  report  regulatory  accounting  information. 
 The  Joint  Conference  will  begin  a  reexamination  of  federal  and  state  regulatory  accounting  and  related  reporting  requirements  and  make  recommendations  for  improvements. 
 The  Joint  Conference  will  include  representatives  of  up  to  five  State  commissions  and  be  chaired  by  the  Chairman  of  the  FCC  or  his  designee.  Any  or  all  of  the  other  FCC  commissioners  may 
 participate  in  the  Joint  Conference. 
 -FCC-  Docket  No.:  WC  02-  269 


 Action  by  the  Commission  August  27,  2002,  by  Order  (FCC  02-  240).  Chairman  Powell  and  Commissioners  Abernathy,  Copps,  and  Martin;  with  Commissioner  Copps  issuing  a 
 statement. 
 Wireline  Competition  Bureau  Staff  Contact:  Jane  Jackson  at  202-  418-  1500. 
 News  about  the  Federal  Communications  Commission  can  also  be  found  on  the  Commission’s  web  site  www.  fcc.  gov. 
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