[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 188 (Thursday, September 28, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50120-50121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-24079]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 69

[CC Docket No. 91-213; FCC 95-404]


Transport Rate Structure and Pricing

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: In this Fourth Memorandum Opinion and Order on 
Reconsideration, we address two issues raised by MCI on reconsideration 
of the Third Reconsideration Order (Transport Rate Structure and 
Pricing, Third Memorandum Opinion and Order and Supplemental Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking)--the mid-course adjustment (or ``true up'') of the 
interconnection charge and the rules regarding discounted transport 
offerings and pricing flexibility. In addition, we address, on our own 
initiative, the expiration of the interim transport rate structure, 
which was initially set to expire on October 31, 1995. We dismiss in 
part MCI's Petition for Clarification or, in the Alternative, 
Reconsideration as moot, and grant in part that petition. We also 
reconsider the expiration date of the interim transport rate structure 
rules and extend the effectiveness of those rules pending further 
Commission action. The intended effect of this action is to maintain 
the interim transport rate structure.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 30, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew J. Harthun, (202) 418-1590 or 
David L. Sieradzki, (202) 418-1576, Policy and Program Planning 
Division, Common Carrier Bureau.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Commission's 
Fourth Memorandum Opinion and Order on Reconsideration in CC Docket No. 
91-213, adopted and released on September 22, 1995. The complete text 
of this Fourth Memorandum Opinion and Order on Reconsideration is 
available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in 
the FCC Reference Center, 1919 M Street, N.W., Room 239, Washington, 
D.C. 20554.

Synopsis of Memorandum Opinion and Order

A. MCI's Petition for Clarification or, in the Alternative, 
Reconsideration

    1. On February 21, 1995, MCI filed a Petition for Clarification or, 
in the Alternative, Reconsideration of the Third Reconsideration Order, 
60 FR 4107 (January 20, 1995). MCI asks the Commission to clarify or 
reconsider the procedure for LECs to implement a mid-course adjustment 
(or ``true up'') of the interconnection charge. In addition, MCI asks 
the Commission to clarify that LECs are not precluded from offering 
their access customers percentage and growth discounts, so long as they 
can demonstrate that such discounts are cost-based.
1. Interconnection Charge ``True Up''
    2. In the Third Reconsideration Order, we required the LECs to file 
any requests for mid-course adjustment to the interconnection charge no 
later than March 31, 1995. No requests for mid-course adjustment were 
submitted by that date. Accordingly, MCI's request for clarification or 
reconsideration regarding the inclusion of non-recurring 

[[Page 50121]]
costs in the mid-course adjustment is moot. The request is therefore 
dismissed.
2. Percentage and Growth Discounts
    3. We reaffirm our conclusion in the Third Reconsideration Order 
that the discussion of discounted transport offerings in the Switched 
Transport Expanded Interconnection Order (Expanded Interconnection with 
Local Telephone Company Facilities, Second Report and Order and Third 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 58 FR 48756 (September 17, 1993)) and as 
reaffirmed and modified by the Expanded Interconnection Remand Order 
(Expanded Interconnection with Local Telephone Company Facilities, 
Memorandum Opinion and Order, 59 FR 38922 (August 1, 1994)) and the 
rules adopted in that Order do not contemplate percentage or growth 
discounts. As with any of the Commission's rules, a party may file for 
waiver if the party believes that, under the particular circumstances 
it faces, a waiver would better serve the public interest than 
application of the general rule. In the particular situation here at 
issue, a LEC is not precluded from seeking waiver of the transport 
access charge rules to offer its access customers a percentage or 
growth discount. Waivers will only be granted for good cause shown (See 
47 CFR 1.3). Such a showing requires the petitioning party to 
demonstrate the special circumstances that warrant deviation from the 
general rule and to show how such deviation would better serve the 
public interest. A showing that such discounts would be cost-based in 
the particular circumstances at issue, as suggested by MCI, is only one 
of a number of potentially relevant factors. Accordingly, MCI's request 
is granted insofar as it seeks clarification that a LEC may seek a 
waiver of our rules under normal waiver standards to offer percentage 
or growth discounts.

B. Expiration Date of the Interim Transport Rate Structure Rules

    4. We believe that the public interest requires retention of the 
existing transport rate structure and pricing rules beyond October 31, 
1995, and therefore reconsider, on our own motion, the expiration date 
for those rules. The process of adjusting from the old equal charge 
rate structure to the interim transport rate structure appears to have 
required more time and effort than we originally anticipated, and we 
wish to avoid the disruption predicted by the parties. We also agree 
that consideration of a long-term transport rate structure would raise 
issues that are closely related to possible comprehensive reform of our 
access charge rules. Accordingly, we reconsider our original decision 
to impose the current transport rate structure and pricing rules only 
through October 31, 1995, and extend the effectiveness of the interim 
transport rate structure, pending further Commission action.

C. Ordering Clauses

    5. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to authority contained in 
Sections 1, 4 (i) and (j), 201-205, 218, 220 and 403 of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 154 (i) and (j) 
201-205, 218, 220 and 403, Part 69 of the Commission's rules is amended 
as set forth below.
    6. It is further ordered that MCI's Petition for Clarification or, 
in the Alternative, Reconsideration is dismissed in part as moot, and 
is granted in part as indicated herein.
    7. It is further ordered that the Commission's rules as amended 
herein shall be effective 30 days after the date of publication in the 
Federal Register.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 69

    Communications common carriers, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Telephone.

Amendment to the Code of Federal Regulations

    Part 69 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended 
as follows:

PART 69--ACCESS CHARGES

    1. The authority citation for Part 69 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Secs. 4, 201, 202, 203, 205, 218, 403, 48 Stat. 1066, 
1070, 1072, 1077, 1094, as amended 47 U.S.C. 154, 201, 202, 203, 
205, 218, 403, unless otherwise noted.

    2. Section 69.110 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) and (e) to 
read as follows:


Sec. 69.110  Entrance facilities.

    (a) A flat-rated entrance facilities charge expressed in dollars 
and cents per unit of capacity shall be assessed upon all interexchange 
carriers and other persons that use telephone company facilities 
between the interexchange carrier or other person's point of 
demarcation and the serving wire center.
* * * * *
    (e) Except as provided in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this 
section, telephone companies shall not offer entrance facilities based 
on term discounts or volume discounts for multiple DS3s or any other 
service with higher volume than DS3.
* * * * *
    3. Section 69.111 is amended by revising paragraphs (b) and (g) to 
read as follows:


Sec. 69.111  Tandem-Switched Transport and Tandem Charge.

* * * * *
    (b) A tandem-switched transmission charge expressed in dollars and 
cents per access minute shall be assessed upon all interexchange 
carriers and other persons that use telephone company tandem-switched 
transport facilities.
* * * * *
    (g) The tandem charge shall be set to recover twenty percent of the 
annual part 69 interstate tandem revenue requirement.
* * * * *
    4. Section 69.112 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) and (e) to 
read as follows:


Sec. 69.112  Direct-Trunked Transport.

    (a) A flat-rated direct-trunked transport charge expressed in 
dollars and cents per unit of capacity shall be assessed upon all 
interexchange carriers and other persons that use telephone company 
direct-trunked transport facilities.
* * * * *
    (e) Except as provided in pagagraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this 
section, telephone companies shall not offer direct-trunked transport 
rates based on term discounts or volume discounts for multiple DS3s or 
any other service with higher volume than DS3.
* * * * *
Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-24079 Filed 9-27-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M