**DA 06-1869**

**September 14, 2006**

**PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED FOR COMMENTS**

**ON VERIZON'S PETITIONS FOR FORBEARANCE**

**IN THE BOSTON, NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA, PITTSBURGH,**

**PROVIDENCE, AND VIRGINIA BEACH METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS**

**WC Docket No. 06-172**

**Comments Due: October 30, 2006**

**Reply Comments Due: November 29, 2006**

On September 6, 2006, the Verizon Telephone Companies (Verizon) filed
six separate petitions pursuant to section 10 of the Communications Act
of 1934, as amended,[^1] requesting that the Commission forbear from
applying to Verizon certain obligations in the Boston, New York,
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Providence, and Virginia Beach Metropolitan
Statistical Areas (MSAs).[^2] Specifically, according to its Petitions,
Verizon seeks forbearance from loop and transport unbundling obligations
pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 251(c) (47 C.F.R. § 51.319(a), (b), (e)); Part
61 dominant carrier tariffing requirements (*id*. §§ 61.32, 61.33,
61.58, 61.59); Part 61 price cap regulation (*id.* §§ 61.41-61.49);
Computer III requirements including CEI and ONA requirements; and
dominant carrier requirements arising under section 214 of the Act and
Part 63 of the Commission's rules concerning the processes for acquiring
lines, discontinuing services, assignment or transfers of control, and
acquiring affiliations (*id*. §§ 63.03, 63.04, 63.60-63.66).[^3] Verizon
claims that competition in these six markets is even more advanced than
competition in the Omaha MSA, where the Commission granted in part a
forbearance petition Qwest Corporation filed seeking similar relief.[^4]

This Public Notice establishes certain procedural requirements relating
to consideration of Verizon's Petitions. This matter shall be treated as
a "permit-but-disclose" proceeding in accordance with the Commission's
*ex parte* rules. *See* 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200, 1.1206. 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 generally is required. *See* 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b). Other
rules pertaining to oral and written *ex parte* presentations in
permit-but-disclose proceedings are set forth in Section 1.1206(b) of
the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b).

Pursuant to Section 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.
§§ 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments on the Verizon
petitions for forbearance on or before October 30, 2006 and reply
comments on or before November 29, 2006. All filings must be addressed
to the Commission's Secretary, Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the
Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Suite
TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. Two (2) courtesy copies must be delivered
to Janice M. Myles, Federal Communications Commission, Wireline
Competition Bureau, Competition Policy Division, 445 12th Street, SW,
Suite 5-C327, Washington, DC 20554, or via e-mail
<janice.myles@fcc.gov>; and one (1) copy must be sent to Best Copy and
Printing, Inc., 445 12th Street, Suite CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554,
telephone 202-488-5300, facsimile 202-488-5563, or via e-mail
<FCC@BCPIWEB.COM>.

Comments may be filed using: (1) the Commission's Electronic Comment
Filing System (ECFS), (2) the Federal Government's eRulemaking Portal,
or (3) by filing paper copies. *See Electronic Filing of Documents in
Rulemaking Proceedings*, 63 FR 24121 (1998).

-   Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the
    Internet by accessing the ECFS: <http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/> or
    the Federal eRulemaking Portal:
    [http://www.regulations.gov](http://www.regulations.gov/). Filers
    should follow the instructions provided on the website for
    submitting comments.

    -   For ECFS filers, if multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear
        in the caption of this proceeding, filers must transmit one
        electronic copy of the comments for each docket or rulemaking
        number referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal
        screen, filers should include their full name, U.S. Postal
        Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking
        number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by
        Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions, filers should send
        an e-mail to <ecfs@fcc.gov>, and include the following words in
        the body of the message, "get form." A sample form and
        directions will be sent in response.

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-   Paper Filers: 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, filers
    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). All filings must be addressed to the
> Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal
> Communications Commission.

-   The Commission's contractor 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 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand
    deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any
    envelopes must be disposed of [before]{.underline} 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, Express, and Priority mail should
    be addressed to 445 12^th^ Street, SW, Washington DC 20554.

**People with Disabilities**: To request materials in accessible formats
for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files,
audio format), send an e-mail to <fcc504@fcc.gov> or call the Consumer &
Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty).

Filings and comments are also available for public inspection and
copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Information
Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY-A257, Washington, DC,
20554. They may also be purchased from the Commission's duplicating
contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., Portals II, 445 12th Street,
SW, Room CY-B402, Washington, DC, 20554, telephone 202-488-5300,
facsimile 202-488-5563, or via e-mail <FCC@BCPIWEB.COM>.

For further information regarding this proceeding, contact Tim Stelzig,
Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, (202)
418-0942, or Jeremy Miller, Competition Policy Division, Wireline
Competition Bureau, (202) 418-1507.

\- FCC -

[^1]: *See* 47 U.S.C. § 160.

[^2]: Petition of the Verizon Telephone Companies for Forbearance
    Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) in the Boston Metropolitan
    Statistical Area, WC Docket No. 06-172 (filed Sept. 6, 2006)
    (Verizon Boston Petition); Petition of the Verizon Telephone
    Companies for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) in the New
    York Metropolitan Statistical Area, WC Docket No. 06-172 (filed
    Sept. 6, 2006) (Verizon New York Petition); Petition of the Verizon
    Telephone Companies for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c)
    in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Statistical Area, WC Docket No.
    06-172 (filed Sept. 6, 2006) (Verizon Philadelphia Petition);
    Petition of the Verizon Telephone Companies for Forbearance Pursuant
    to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical
    Area, WC Docket No. 06-172 (filed Sept. 6, 2006) (Verizon Pittsburgh
    Petition); Petition of the Verizon Telephone Companies for
    Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) in the Providence
    Metropolitan Statistical Area, WC Docket No. 06-172 (filed Sept. 6,
    2006) (Verizon Providence Petition); Petition of the Verizon
    Telephone Companies for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160(c)
    in the Virginia Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area, WC Docket No.
    06-172 (filed Sept. 6, 2006) (Verizon Virginia Beach Petition)
    (collectively, Verizon Petitions).

[^3]: *See, e.g.*, Verizon New York Petition at 4 n.3.

[^4]: *Petition of Qwest Corporation for Forbearance Pursuant to 47
    U.S.C. § 160(c) in the Omaha Metropolitan Statistical Area*,
    Memorandum Opinion and Order, WC Docket No. 04-223, 20 FCC Rcd 19415
    (2005), *appeal pending*, *Qwest Corp. v. FCC & USA*, No. 04-1450
    (D.C. Cir. filed Dec. 12, 2005).