**Before the**

**Federal Communications Commission**

**Washington, D.C. 20554**

+----------------------------------+----+------------------------------+
| In the Matter of                 | *  | CC Docket No. 00-218         |
|                                  | *) |                              |
| Petition of WorldCom, Inc.       | ** | CC Docket No. 00-251         |
| Pursuant to Section 252(e)(5) of |    |                              |
| the Communications Act for       | *  |                              |
| Preemption of the Jurisdiction   | *) |                              |
| of the Virginia State            | ** |                              |
| Corporation Commission Regarding |    |                              |
| Interconnection Disputes with    | *  |                              |
| Verizon Virginia Inc., and for   | *) |                              |
| Expedited Arbitration            | ** |                              |
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| Petition of AT&T Communications  | *  |                              |
| of Virginia Inc., Pursuant to    | *) |                              |
| Section 252(e)(5) of the         | ** |                              |
| Communications Act for           |    |                              |
| Preemption of the Jurisdiction   | *  |                              |
| of the Virginia Corporation      | *) |                              |
| Commission Regarding             | ** |                              |
| Interconnection Disputes With    |    |                              |
| Verizon Virginia Inc.            | *  |                              |
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+----------------------------------+----+------------------------------+

**ORDER**

**Adopted: March 10, 2004 Released: March 10, 2004**

By the Chief, Pricing Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau:

# Introduction

1.  On January 29, 2004, the Wireline Competition Bureau released a
    Memorandum Opinion and Order in the above-captioned matters that set
    forth the rates that Verizon Virginia Inc. (Verizon) may charge AT&T
    Communications of Virginia Inc. (AT&T) and WorldCom, Inc. (WorldCom)
    for access to unbundled network elements, interconnection, and
    resale.[^1] These rates became effective upon the release of the
    order on January 29, 2004.[^2] The *Virginia Arbitration Compliance
    Order* further required that Verizon and AT&T, and Verizon and
    WorldCom, amend their respective interconnection agreements to
    incorporate the rates set forth therein by February 9, 2004.[^3]
    Subsequently, we granted Verizon's unopposed motion for an extension
    of time, extending the date for the parties to file their
    interconnection agreement amendments until March 10, 2004.[^4]

2.  On March 8, 2004, Verizon, AT&T, and WorldCom submitted a joint
    motion for an additional fourteen-day extension of time (until March
    24, 2004) to file their interconnection agreement amendments.[^5]
    The parties claim that they "are in the midst of negotiations to
    resolve various outstanding issues concerning how to apply the
    ordered rates in the context of the rate structures and other terms
    in their agreements," and that they need an additional two weeks to
    complete these negotiations.[^6] The parties further state that
    grant of this extension of time will not affect the effective dates
    of the rates.[^7]

# DISCUSSION

3.  The *Joint Motion* for an extension of time until March 24, 2004 for
    the parties to submit amendments to their interconnection agreements
    to incorporate the rates ordered in the *Virginia Arbitration
    Compliance Order* is granted. It is the policy of the Commission
    that extensions of time are not routinely granted.[^8] We find,
    however, that there is good cause to extend the due date for filing
    interconnection agreement amendments. The parties explain that they
    are in the midst of negotiating how to apply the ordered rates
    within the context of their interconnection agreements and that they
    need a brief extension of time to complete these negotiations.
    Further, because all parties jointly request the extension of time,
    and because the effective date of the rates is not affected by the
    extension, granting the extension will not prejudice any party. We
    note, however, that, in granting this second extension of time, we
    will have provided the parties with almost two months from the
    release of the *Virginia Arbitration Compliance Order* to submit
    their amendments. In granting the parties the full extension of time
    they request (for a second time), we fully expect them to complete
    their negotiations and to submit the required interconnection
    agreements by March 24, 2004.

4.  ACCORDINGLY, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to sections 4(i), 4(j),
    and 5(c) of the Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. §§ 154(i), 154(j)
    155(c), and sections 0.91, 0.291, and 1.46 of the Commission's
    rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.91, 0.291, 1.46, the request for an extension
    of time filed by Verizon Virginia Inc., AT&T Communications of
    Virginia Inc., and WorldCom, Inc. IS GRANTED.

    By Order of the Pricing Policy Division,

> \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
>
> Tamara L. Preiss
>
> Chief, Pricing Policy Division
>
> Wireline Competition Bureau

[^1]: *Petition of WorldCom, Inc. Pursuant to Section 252(e)(5) of the
    Communications Act for Preemption of the Jurisdiction of the
    Virginia State Corporation Commission Regarding Interconnection
    Disputes with Verizon Virginia Inc., and for Expedited Arbitration*,
    CC Docket Nos. 00-218, 00-251, Memorandum Opinion and Order, DA
    04-181 (WCB rel. Jan. 29, 2004) (*Virginia Arbitration Compliance
    Order*), as corrected by *Petition of WorldCom, Inc. Pursuant to
    Section 252(e)(5) of the Communications Act for Preemption of the
    Jurisdiction of the Virginia State Corporation Commission Regarding
    Interconnection Disputes with Verizon Virginia Inc., and for
    Expedited Arbitration*, CC Docket Nos. 00-218, 00-251, Erratum, DA
    04-281 (WCB rel. Feb. 5, 2004).

[^2]: *Virginia Arbitration Compliance Order*, at para. 42. Switching
    rates became effective as of August 1, 2002. *Id*.

[^3]: *Id*. at paras. 41, 45-46; *see also* 47 C.F.R. § 1.4.

[^4]: *Petition of WorldCom, Inc. Pursuant to Section 252(e)(5) of the
    Communications Act for Preemption of the Jurisdiction of the
    Virginia State Corporation Commission Regarding Interconnection
    Disputes with Verizon Virginia Inc., and for Expedited Arbitration*,
    CC Docket Nos. 00-218, 00-251, Order, DA 04-324 (WCB/PPD rel. Feb.
    9, 2004).

[^5]: *Petition of WorldCom, Inc. Pursuant to Section 252(e)(5) of the
    Communications Act for Preemption of the Jurisdiction of the
    Virginia State Corporation Commission Regarding Interconnection
    Disputes with Verizon Virginia Inc., and for Expedited Arbitration*,
    CC Docket Nos. 00-218, 00-251, Joint Motion of Verizon Virginia
    Inc., AT&T Communications of Virginia Inc., and WorldCom, Inc. for
    Extension of Time to File Amendments to Interconnection Agreements
    (filed March 8, 2004) (*Joint Motion*).

[^6]: *Id*. at 1-2.

[^7]: *Id*.

[^8]: 47 C.F.R. § 1.46(a).