[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 153 (Thursday, August 8, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51581-51583]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-20176]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CC Docket No. 01-92, DA 02-1740]


Routing and Rating of Traffic by Incumbent Local Exchange 
Carriers (ILECs)

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice; solicitation of comments.

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SUMMARY: In a public notice in this proceeding released on July 18, 
2002, the Wireline Competition Bureau sought comment on the Sprint 
Petition for Declaratory Ruling regarding the routing and rating of 
traffic by ILECs and on BellSouth's opposition to the petition, 
including the appropriate intercarrier compensation applicable to this 
traffic, both under our existing rules and prospectively.

[[Page 51582]]


DATES: Comments due August 8, 2002 and reply comments due August 19, 
2002.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20554. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for where 
and how to file comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Morris or Victoria Schlesinger, 
Pricing Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, (202) 418-1530, 
or Gregory Vadas, Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, 
(202) 418-1798.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 9, 2002, Sprint Corporation (Sprint), 
on behalf of its wireless division, filed a petition for declaratory 
ruling seeking confirmation that: (1) An incumbent local exchange 
carrier (ILEC) may not refuse to load telephone numbering resources of 
an interconnecting carrier, and (2) an ILEC may not refuse to honor the 
routing and rating points designated by that interconnecting carrier. 
Sprint's concern is its contention that, in certain circumstances, 
BellSouth has signaled its intention to refuse to program its LATA 
tandem switches with Sprint's NPA-NXXs. In particular, where Sprint 
wishes to associate an NPA-NXX with a rate center of an ILEC other than 
BellSouth, and the rating and routing points are different (e.g., the 
routing point could be Sprint's MSC, but the rating point would be an 
independent ILEC's rate center), Sprint contends that BellSouth's 
position is to refuse to load its LATA tandem switch with Sprint's call 
routing and rating information. On May 22, 2002, BellSouth filed an 
opposition to the Sprint Petition stating that it is currently loading 
NPA-NXXs that Sprint acquires and that it is not currently adversely 
affecting the routing of any Sprint traffic. In its opposition, 
BellSouth states that it believes that the rating and routing 
arrangements described above result in inappropriate intercarrier 
compensation, claiming that ``[v]arious forms of intercarrier 
compensation, including reciprocal compensation, access charges, and 
inter-company settlements could apply to this traffic.'' We seek 
comment on the practices and issues raised in Sprint's petition and 
BellSouth's opposition, including the appropriate intercarrier 
compensation applicable to the traffic described above, both under our 
existing rules and prospectively.
    Sprint's Petition and BellSouth's Opposition raise interconnection 
and intercarrier compensation issues under consideration in CC Docket 
No. 01-92, Developing a Unified Intercarrier Compensation Regime, 66 FR 
28410, May 23, 2001. Accordingly, we ask that parties file their 
pleadings in CC Docket No. 01-92. The petition and other pleadings will 
be incorporated into CC Docket No. 01-92.
    Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 
interested parties may file comments on or before August 8, 2002, and 
reply comments on or before August 19, 2002. Comments may be filed 
using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by 
filing paper copies. Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an 
electronic file via the Internet to http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html. Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be 
filed. If multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption 
of this proceeding, however, commenters must transmit one electronic 
copy of the filing to each docket or rulemaking number referenced in 
the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should 
include their full name, Postal Service mailing address, and the 
applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an 
electronic copy by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions for e-
mail comments, commenters should send an e-mail to [email protected], and 
should include the following words in the body of the message: ``get 
form your email address>.'' A sample form and directions will be sent 
in reply. Commenters also may obtain a copy of the ASCII Electronic 
Transmittal Form (FORM-ET) at http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/email.html. 
Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four 
copies of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number 
appears in the caption of this proceeding, commenters must submit two 
additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number. 
Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial 
overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service 
mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S. 
Postal Service mail). The Commission's contractor, Vistronix, Inc., 
will receive hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for 
the Commission's Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Suite 110, 
Washington, DC 20002. The filing hours at this location are 8 a.m. to 7 
p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or 
fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the 
building. Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service 
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton 
Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U.S. Postal Service first-class mail, 
Express Mail, and Priority Mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20554. All filings must be addressed to the 
Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications 
Commission. Regardless of whether parties choose to file electronically 
or by paper, parties should also file one copy of any documents filed 
in this docket with the Commission's copy contractor, Qualex 
International, Portals II, 445 12th Street SW., CY-B402, Washington, DC 
20554 (telephone 202-863-2893; facsimile 202-863-2898) or via e-mail at 
[email protected]. In addition, one copy of each submission must be 
filed with the Chief, Pricing Policy Division, Wireline Competition 
Bureau, and Chief, Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, 
445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. Documents filed in this 
proceeding will be available for public inspection during regular 
business hours in the Commission's Reference Information Center, 445 
12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554, and will be placed on the 
Commission's Internet site.
    This proceeding will be governed by ``permit-but-disclose'' ex 
parte procedures that are applicable to non-restricted proceedings 
under section 1.1206 of the Commission's rules. Parties making oral ex 
parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the 
presentation must contain a summary of the substance of the 
presentation and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed. More 
than a one-or two-sentence description of the views and arguments 
presented generally is required. Other rules pertaining to oral and 
written presentations are set forth in section 1.1206(b) as well. In 
addition, interested parties are to file any written ex parte 
presentations in this proceeding with the Commission's Secretary, 
Marlene H. Dortch, 445 12th Street, SW., TW-B204, Washington, DC 20554, 
and serve with three copies each: Pricing Policy Division, Wireline 
Competition Bureau, Attn: Victoria Schlesinger, and Policy Division, 
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Attn: Gregory Vadas, 445 12th 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. Parties shall also serve with one 
copy: Qualex International, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-
B402, Washington, DC 20554, (202) 863-2893.


[[Page 51583]]


    Federal Communications Commission.
Deena Shetler,
Deputy Division Chief, Pricing Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 02-20176 Filed 8-7-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P