FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
March 14,2012
JULIUS GENACHOWSKI
CHAIRMAN
The Honorable Peter T. King
Chairman
Committee on Homeland Security
U.S. House of Representatives
H2-176 Ford House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairman King:
Thank you for your letter regarding independent payphone service providers and the
payphone proceeding pending before the Commission.
As you are aware, the Commission is considering petitions for declaratory ruling from
payphone providers seeking refunds from Bell Operating Companies in several states.
Individual state public utility commissions have jurisdiction over the access line rates that
payphone providers purchase to provide their service. In the petitions before the Commission,
independent payphone associations from the states ofIllinois, Mississippi, New York, Florida,
Ohio, and Michigan request that the Commission preempt the decisions by each of the individual
state commissions.
The issues that are before the Commission in these multiple petitions raise complex and
unique procedural facts. The Commission has compiled an extensive record ofevidence
submitted by payphone service providers and interested parties from several states. On the basis
ofthat record, I circulated a final order on this item to my colleagues and have entered my vote.
Please be assured that the Commission recognizes the importance ofpayphones and will
give full consideration to all the facts and issues raised by the parties. If I can provide any
further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Julius Genachowski
445 12TH STREET S.W. WASHINGTON, D.C 20554 • 202-418-1000