NEWS
	Federal Communications Commission 1919 - M Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20554	News media information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov
	This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
	May 19, 1997
	Common Carrier Bureau Operations Support Systems Forum: Announcement of Agenda
	Date: Wednesday, May 28 - Thursday, May 29, 1997 Location: Commission Meeting Room Federal Communications Commission 1919 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20554 Time: Wednesday, May 28: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Thursday, May 29: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
	Operations support systems (OSS) are systems, databases and information that a local exchange carrier (LEC) uses to provide telecommunications services to its customers. In its Local Competition Order, the Commission concluded that an incumbent LEC is required to provide requesting carriers access to OSS functions pursuant to its obligation to offer access to unbundled network elements under section 251(c)(3) of the Communications Act, as well as its obligation to furnish access on a nondiscriminatory basis to all unbundled network elements and services made available for resale, under section 251(c)(3) and (c)(4) of the Act. The Commission required incumbent LECs to provide requesting carriers with nondiscriminatory access to their OSS functions for pre-ordering, ordering, provisioning, maintenance and repair, and billing. The Commission further required that such access must be equivalent to that which the incumbent provides to itself, its affiliates or customers. The Commission concluded that providing access to these support systems is vital to creating opportunities for meaningful competition. This forum will explore some of the key issues concerning the deployment and use of OSS for local exchange competition. Access to OSS involves a two-way exchange of information in the form of requests and responses between the carriers. By bringing together representatives from different parts of the telecommunications industry, the Commission hopes to highlight why access to OSS functionality is critical for the development of local competition. The forum should provide further information on the progress incumbent LECs have made towards providing nondiscriminatory access to their OSS functions and identify what, if any, additional steps are necessary to support competitive local entry. AGENDA Wednesday, May 28: 9:00 - 9:15 Introductory Remarks 9:15 - 9:45 Presentation: Industry Technical Standards for Access to Operations Support Systems Functions Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) A brief introduction to ATIS, including how it facilitates the development of industry standards and an overview of the issues addressed by the ATIS committees. A brief review of the issues concerning OSS access before the Ordering and Billing Forum and an update on the progress made to date regarding standards-setting for access to OSS functions, and outstanding issues. Susan Miller, VP/General Counsel, ATIS Glenn Sirlef, Moderator, Ordering and Billing Forum, SBC Dianne Moore, Assistant Moderator, Ordering and Billing Forum, MCI 9:45 - 10:00 Break 10:00 - 11:45 An Overview on OSS Functions: What is Nondiscriminatory Access and the Role of National Standards What is required for an incumbent LEC to meet the "just, reasonable and nondiscriminatory" terms and conditions requirement of section 251(c)(3) and the no "unreasonable or discriminatory" conditions requirement of section 251(c)(4) in the provision of access to OSS functions? What role should technical standards play in evaluating whether an incumbent's provision of access to OSS functions is nondiscriminatory? What role, if any, should the Commission play in facilitating the development and adoption of industry standards? Don Russell, Chief Telecommunications Task Force, Department of Justice Katheryn C. Brown, Associate Adminstrator, Office of Policy Analysis & Development, NTIA Commissioner Vince Majkowski, Colorado Public Utilities Commission John Lenahan, Assistant General Counsel, Ameritech Kevin Snyder, Assistant Vice President/Process Team Leader, GTE Anne K. Bingaman, Senior Vice President, President LocalTelecommunications Division, LCI International Nate Davis, Chief Financial Officer, MCI Telecommunications 11:45 - 12:00 Break 12:00 - 1:00 Pre-ordering What activities are necessary to accomplish the "pre-ordering" function? What safeguards are necessary to ensure nondiscriminatory access to pre-ordering functionalities? What capacity and scalability requirements must an incumbent LEC's system have? Stuart Miller, Vice President, NYNEX Robert van Fossen, Senior Director - Systems Planning & Development, US West Carol Bussing, Assistant Vice President Systems Integration/Planning, Sprint David White, Vice President Quality and Information Systems, ACSI William Muller, Senior Consultant Telecommunications Industry, GE Information Services Thursday, May 29: 9:00 - 10:30 Ordering/Provisioning What OSS functionality is necessary for successful "ordering" and "provisioning"? What level of flowthrough is required to provide nondiscriminatory access? What reporting requirements and performance standards, if any, are necessary to ensure that competitors receive parity access to OSS functions for ordering and provisioning? What types of interfaces meet the Commission's requirements on OSS access? Stuart Kupinsky, Trial Attorney, Department of Justice Charlotte TerKeurst, Illinois Commerce Commission Joe Rodgers, Director - Information Technologies, Ameritech Elizabeth Ham, Executive Director Interconnection & Resale Technical Implementation, Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. Wayne Fonteix, Local Markets Director, AT&T Pat Socci, Vice President MIS, TCG Venkates Swaminathan - Director of Marketing, Telesphere Solutions 10:30 - 10:45 Break 10:45 - 11:45 Billing What is required to ensure parity and nondiscriminatory access to billing information? Are daily usage feed capabilities required to provide parity? What processes are being or should be used to transmit billing information to competitors? What formats are being used? Beth Lawson, Area Manager - Finance Operations, Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. Mary Berube, Senior Product Manager - Network Marketing & Sales, SNET Robert V. Falcone, District Manager - New Market Development, AT&T Dennis Perkins, Vice President Corporate Controller, Brooks Fiber 11:45 - 12:00 Break 12:00 - 1:00 Repair and Maintenance What access should incumbent LECs provide to requesting carriers to meet their obligation to provide access to OSS functions for repair and maintenance? What standards are necessary to ensure parity? What types of interfaces are being deployed or proposed? Gloria Calhoun, Director, BellSouth David Swan, Vice President Carrier Services, Bell Atlantic Gary Owens, Vice President Operations, Sprint Rod Cox, Manager of Market Expansion/Operations, Consolidated Communications Inc. Live audio coverage of the forum may be obtained for a fee from National Narrowcast Network's "Hearings-On-The-Line" at (202) 966-2211. For information on obtaining a videotape of the forum, please contact the FCC's Audio-Visual Office at (202) 418-0460. - FCC - For additional information contact: Kalpak Gude or Lisa Gelb at (202) 418-1580. News Media Contact: Rochelle Cohen at (202) 418-0253. * * * * * * * * Note: On Tuesday, May 27, 1997, the United States Telephone Association will sponsor an OSS demonstration. The demonstration will feature the operations support systems of Ameritech, Bell Atlantic, GTE, and NYNEX. Other USTA member companies may also participate in the demonstration. This event will be held at the Washington Marriott, 1221 22nd Street, NW from 1 pm to 5 pm. The demonstration is open to the public. For additional information concerning USTA's OSS Demonstration, please contact Mike Wendy of USTA at 202-326-7317 (mwendy@usta.org).