Opinion ID: 785238
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Unbundling of Shared Transport Facilities

Text: 134 The FCC found CLECs that lease ILEC mass market switches are impaired without unbundled access to so-called shared transport — transmission facilities shared by more than one carrier, including the ILEC, running between end office switches, between end office switches and tandem switches, and between tandem switches within the ILEC's network. Order ¶¶ 533-34. But the FCC also concluded that, because switching and shared transport are inextricably linked, if incumbent LECs are no longer obligated to unbundle switching, they should no longer be obligated to unbundle shared transport. Id. ¶ 534. In effect, it found that CLECs are entitled to unbundled shared transport only in cases where mass market switching has also been unbundled. Id. The CLECs object to this condition for unbundled shared transport, saying that they are impaired without access to shared transport between local tandem switches when they transit traffic — that is, when they transport traffic that originates on their network to other carriers' networks. The Commission in fact recognized the claim, saying that it proposed to address the issue in a pending rulemaking on intercarrier compensation. Id. ¶ 534 n. 1640. 135 Although the FCC failed to resolve an impairment question pressed by the CLECs in this Order, the Commission need not address all problems `in one fell swoop.' U.S. Cellular Corp. v. FCC, 254 F.3d 78, 86 (D.C.Cir.2001) (quoting Nat'l Ass'n of Broadcasters v. FCC, 740 F.2d 1190, 1207 (D.C.Cir.1984)). The FCC generally has broad discretion to control the disposition of its caseload, and to defer consideration of particular issues to future proceedings when it thinks that doing so would be conducive to the efficient dispatch of business and the ends of justice. See GTE Service Corp. v. FCC, 782 F.2d 263, 273-74 (D.C.Cir.1986) (citing Nader v. FCC, 520 F.2d 182, 195 (D.C.Cir.1975) and Cellular Mobile Sys. of Penn., Inc. v. FCC, 782 F.2d 182, 197 (D.C.Cir.1985)). So long as the FCC's decision to postpone consideration of the transiting issue doesn't result in unreasonable delay or impose substantial hardship on the CLECs — which hasn't been shown here — the Commission's choice to organize its rulemaking docket in this way is lawful. 136