**DA 01-1041**

**April 23, 2001**

**COMMON CARRIER BUREAU GRANTS MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME FOR FILING
COMMENTS AND REPLY COMMENTS ON BOC JOINT MOTION REGARDING UNBUNDLED
NETWORK ELEMENTS**

**CC Docket No. 96-98**

Revised Filing Dates:

Comments Due**: June 11, 2001**

Reply Comments Due: **June 25, 2001**

On April 5, 2001, BellSouth Corporation and BellSouth
Telecommunications, Inc. (BellSouth), SBC Communications, Inc. (SBC),
and Verizon Telephone Companies (Verizon) (Joint Petitioners) filed a
Joint Petition asking the Commission to find that high-capacity loops
and dedicated transport should not be subject to mandatory unbundling.
On April 10, 2001, the Common Carrier Bureau released a public notice
stating that interested parties could file comments regarding the Joint
Petition by May 10, 2001 and reply comments by May 25, 2001.[^1] On
April 19, 2001, a group of petitioners (Movants) filed a joint motion to
extend the dates for filing comments and reply comments by 30 days.[^2]
In their pleading, the Movants request an extension of time in order to
respond to a report attached to the Joint Petition entitled,
"Competition for Special Access Service, High Capacity Loops, and
Interoffice Transport." The Movants state that they require additional
time to respond to information compiled in the report that was gathered
from numerous sources. They argue that granting the additional time will
allow the Commission to develop a more complete record regarding
competition for loop and transport services, and that the Joint
Petitioners will not be harmed by such a delay.[^3]

It is the policy of the Commission that extensions of time are not
routinely granted.[^4] In this instance, however, the Bureau finds that
the Movants have shown good cause for an extension of the deadline for
filing comments and reply comments in this proceeding. Because of the
complexity of the issues and the Commission's desire to obtain accurate
data, we grant a limited extension so that parties may file comments on
**June 11, 2001** and reply comments on **June 25, 2001**. This matter
shall continue to be treated as a "permit-but-disclose" proceeding in
accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules.[^5] All other
requirements discussed in the April 10, 2001 public notice remain in
effect.

For further information, please contact Janice M. Myles, Common Bureau
Policy and Program Planning Division, 202-418-1580.

[^1]: *Pleading Cycle Established for Comments on Joint Petition of
    BellSouth, SBC and Verizon*, CC Docket No. 96-98, DA 01-911 (Apr.
    10, 2001).

[^2]: Joint Motion for Extension of Time filed by Advanced Telecom
    Group, Inc., the Association of Local Telecommunications Services,
    BroadRiver Communications Company, Broadslate Networks, Inc., Choice
    One Communications, Inc., the Competitive Telecommunications
    Association, Covad Communications Company, e.spire Communications,
    Inc., Eschelon Telecom, Inc., Intermedia Communications, Inc., KMC
    Telecom Inc., Local Telephone and Data Services, Network Telephone
    Corporation, Network Access Solutions, New Edge Network, Inc.,
    NewSouth Communications, Inc., NuVox Inc., Pac-West Telecomm, Inc.,
    RCN Telecom Services, Inc., US LEC Communications Inc., and
    WorldCom, Inc., CC Docket No. 96-98 (filed Apr. 19, 2001) (Joint
    Motion).

[^3]: Joint Motion at 2-3.

[^4]: 47 C.F.R. § 1.46(a).

[^5]: 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206.