**DA 02-567**

**Released: March 12, 2002**

**COMMON CARRIER BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON VERIZON'S REQUEST TO COUNT
INVESTMENT IN NORTHPOINT TOWARD OUT-OF-REGION MERGER OBLIGATION**

**CC Docket No. 98-184**

**Comments Due By: March 19, 2002**

**Reply Comments Due By: March 22, 2002**

On March 7, 2002, Verizon Communications, Inc. (Verizon) submitted a
letter to the Common Carrier Bureau (Bureau) regarding its progress in
satisfying Condition XVI (Out-of-Territory Competitive Entry) of the
*Bell Atlantic/GTE Merger Conditions*.[^1] Condition XVI requires
Verizon to spend a total of at least \$500 million within 36 months of
merger close "to provide services, including resale, that compete with
traditional local telecommunications services offered by incumbent local
exchange carriers or to provide Advanced Services to the mass market . .
. outside the Bell Atlantic/GTE Service Areas \[\]."[^2] As described in
its March 7, 2002 letter, Verizon seeks to count its investment in
Northpoint Communications Group, Inc. (Northpoint) toward satisfaction
of Condition XVI, although that merger was never completed. Verizon's
letter is attached to this Public Notice.

The Bureau seeks comment on Verizon's proposal. Pursuant to the
instructions below, interested parties should submit comments no later
than **March 19, 2002.** Reply comments should be submitted no later
than **March 22, 2002**.

This is a "permit-but-disclose" proceeding in accordance with the
Commission's *ex parte* rules.[^3] Persons making oral *ex parte*
presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentations
must contain summaries of the substance of the presentations and not
merely a listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one or two
sentence description of the views and arguments presented is generally
required.[^4] Other requirements pertaining to oral and written
presentations are set forth in section 1.1206(b) of the Commission's
rules.

Interested parties may file comments by than **March 19, 2002** and
reply comments by than **March 22, 2002**. All filings should refer to
CC Docket No. 98-184. Comments may be filed using the Commission's
Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies.[^5]
Comments filed through 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. In completing the
transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, postal
service mailing address, and the applicable docket number, which in this
instance is CC Docket No. 98-184. Parties may also submit an electronic
comment by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions for e-mail
comments, commenters should send an e-mail to <ecfs@fcc.gov>, and should
include the following words in the body of the message: "get form\<your
e-mail address\>." A sample form and directions will be sent in reply.

Parties who choose to file by paper should also submit their comments on
diskette. These diskettes should be submitted to Ernestine Creech,
Accounting Safeguards Division, Common Carrier Bureau, Federal
Communications Commission, 445 12^th^ Street S.W., Washington, D.C.
20554. Such a submission should be on a 3.5 inch diskette formatted in
an IBM compatible format using Microsoft Word or compatible software.
The diskette should be accompanied by a cover letter and should be
submitted in "read only" mode. The diskette should be clearly labeled
with the commenter's name, proceeding (including the docket number, in
this case, CC Docket No. 98-184), type of pleading (comment or reply
comment), date of submission, and the name of the electronic file on the
diskette. The label should also include the following phrase: "Disk
Copy---Not and Original." Each diskette should contain only one party's
pleading, preferably in a single electronic file. In addition,
commenters must send diskette copies to the Commission's copy
contractor, Qualex International, Portals II, 445 12^th^ Street S.W.,
CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554.

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 12^th^ Street S.W., CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554 (telephone
202-863-2893; facsimile 202-863-2898) or via e-mail at
<qualexint@aol.com>.

Comments and reply comments must include a short and concise summary of
the substantive arguments raised in the pleading. Comments and reply
comments must also comply with section 1.48 and all other applicable
sections of the Commission's rules.[^6] We direct all interested parties
to include the name of the filing party and the date of the filing on
each page of their comments and reply comments. All parties are
encouraged to utilize a table of contents, regardless of the length of
their submission.

For further information, contact Mark Stone at (202) 418-0816.

Action by the Deputy Chief, Common Carrier Bureau.

[^1]: *See* GTE Corporation, Transferor, and Bell Atlantic Corporation,
    Transferee, For Consent to Transfer Control of Domestic and
    International Sections 214 and 310 Authorizations and Application to
    Transfer Control of a Submarine Cable Landing License, *Memorandum
    Opinion and Order*, 15 FCC Rcd 14032, at para. 319 (2000) *(Bell
    Atlantic/GTE Merger Order*); *id.* at Appendix D, paras. 43-48;
    Letter from Gordon Evans, Vice President, Federal Regulatory,
    Verizon, to William Caton, Acting Secretary, Federal Communications
    Commission, CC Docket No. 98-184 (filed Mar. 7, 2002) (Verizon March
    7^th^ Ex Parte).

[^2]: *Bell Atlantic/GTE Merger Order* at Appendix D, para. 43.

[^3]: 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.200 *et seq*.

[^4]: *See* 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b)(2).

[^5]: *See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings*, 63
    Fed. Reg. 24121 (1998).

[^6]: *See* 47 C.F.R. § 1.49.