FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Enforcement Bureau Market Disputes Resolution Division 45 L Street, NE Washington, DC 20554 EBMDRD.division@fcc.gov April 19, 2022 By E-Mail Florence R. Parker Chailla Curtis L. Groves Optatus N. Chailla Verizon Pennsylvania LLC 25 Garden St. 1300 I St., NW P.O. Box 1111 Suite 500E Stroudsburg, PA 18360 Washington, DC 20005 thebusiness2@yahoo.com curtis.groves@verizon.com Complainants Counsel for Defendant Re: Chailla v. Verizon Pennsylvania LLC., Proceeding No. 22-135, Bureau ID No. EB-22-MD-001 Dear Ms. Chailla, Dr. Chailla, and Mr. Groves: We grant the Motion for Extension of Time (Motion),1 filed by defendant Verizon Pennsylvania LLC (Verizon), only to the extent that Verizon may have until May 4, 2022 to answer or move to dismiss the Complaint in this proceeding.2 In its Motion, Verizon asks that we extend its time to respond to the Complaint from April 20, 2022 to May 11, 2022. Verizon states that responding to the Complaint will require considerable time and effort and that the people responsible for preparing the response have scheduling conflicts, particularly given the Easter and Passover holidays.3 Complainants oppose the Motion, arguing that Verizon did not orally notify them of its request, that the public interest will not be served by granting the extension, and that “scheduling conflicts due to holidays known to arise” should not constitute the basis for an extension.4 1 Motion for Extension of Time, Proceeding No. 22-135, Bureau ID No. EB-22-MD-001 (filed Apr. 14, 2022) (Motion). 2 Complaint, Proceeding No. 22-135, Bureau ID No. EB-22-MD-001 (filed Mar. 21, 2022). Verizon advises that the Complaint incorrectly identifies it as Verizon of Florida, LLC, when the correct name is Verizon Florida LLC. Motion at 1. 3 Motion at 1. See Notice of Formal Complaint from Enforcement Bureau, Market Disputes Resolution Division, to Florence and Optatus Chailla, Complainants, and Curtis Groves, Verizon, Proceeding No. 22- 135, Bureau ID No. EB-22-MD-001 (dated Mar. 25, 2022) (Notice of Formal Complaint) (establishing the schedule for proceedings). 4 Complainants’ Objections to Extension of Time, Proceeding No. 22-135, Bureau ID No. EB-22-MD-001 (filed Apr. 14, 2022) (citing 47 CFR § 1.46(c) (Opposition). Given the special circumstances here, we believe Verizon should be granted an extension to respond to the Complaint, as it is in the public interest that both parties to this proceeding have time to provide the Commission thoroughly-prepared responses to each other’s filings. Specifically, we have reviewed the Complaint and find that it raises numerous and complex issues. Further, the intervening holidays will likely make responding to the Complaint more difficult. Although the holidays were, as Complainants argue, “known to arise,” Verizon did not know that Complainants would file the Complaint and therefore could not schedule accordingly. Nevertheless, we agree with Complainants that Verizon should have provided notice sooner that it would be requesting an extension. Accordingly, only a short extension of time is warranted, and Verizon may have until May 4, rather than May 11, to respond to the Complaint. As a result, the schedule for this proceeding set forth in the Notice of Formal Complaint is revised as follows: 1) By May 4, 2022, Verizon must file and serve an answer to the Complaint or a motion to dismiss, together with any interrogatories. 2) By May 16, 2022, Complainants must file and serve a reply to any answer and any second request for interrogatories. 3) By June 2, 2022, the joint statements must be filed and served. We issue this letter ruling under sections 4(i), 4(j), and 208 of the Act, 47 U.S.C. §§ 154(i), 154(j), 208, sections 1.3, 1.46, 1.720-1.740 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 CFR §§ 1.3, 1.46, and 1.720-1.740, and the authority delegated in sections 0.111 and 0.311 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 0.111, 0.311. Sincerely, Federal Communications Commission Enforcement Bureau, Market Disputes Resolution Division 2