STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER DEBORAH TAYLOR TATE
Re: Petition of Qwest Corporation for Forbearance from Enforcement of the Commission’s 
ARMIS and 492A Reporting Requirements Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c), WC Docket No. 
07-204; Petition of Verizon for Forbearance Under 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) From Enforcement 
of Certain of the Commission’s Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements, WC Docket 
No. 07-273
Today, the Commission grants conditional forbearance from the obligation of Qwest, 
AT&T and Verizon to file ARMIS Reports 43-01, 43-02 and 43-03, collectively known as the 
“ARMIS Financial Reports.”  
An integral part of the pro-competitive, de-regulatory national policy framework 
established by Congress in the 1996 Act is the Section 10 forbearance provision.  Today’s 
increasingly competitive telecommunications marketplace, including cross platform competitors 
such as wireless, cable and satellite, provides consumers with an array of choices that ensure the 
consumer protection that was once deemed necessary through government regulation.  Section 10 
mandates that when the Commission finds that certain filings are no longer needed to fulfill their 
consumer protection goals, it “shall forbear” from regulation and reduce unnecessary legacy 
obligations by granting relief accordingly.  The Commission should then level the playing field 
whenever possible for similarly situated carriers. 
It is important to note that this order does not preempt state authority, nor does it prevent 
the FCC from requesting relevant information contained in these reports.  As required in our 
previous orders, this forbearance is conditioned upon approval of a compliance plan which will 
ensure that the Commission continues to have access to necessary data.  Additionally, carriers 
will continue to be required to file pole attachment cost data on an annual basis.