NEWS
	Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554	News media information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 202/418-2555
	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).
	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 15, 1999 NEWS MEDIA CONTACT Mike Balmoris (202) 418-0253
	FCC PROMOTES LOCAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPETITION Adopts Rules on Unbundling of Network Elements
	Washington, D.C. -- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted rules today that specify the portions of the nation's local telephone networks that incumbent local telephone companies must make available to competitors seeking to provide competitive local telephone service. This FCC decision removes a major uncertainty surrounding the unbundling obligations of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and is expected to accelerate the development of competitive choices in local services for consumers. Unbundling allows competitors to lease portions of the incumbent's network to provide telecommunications services. Today's order responds to a U.S. Supreme Court decision which generally affirmed the FCC's implementation of the pro-competition goals of the Telecommunications Act, but which required the Commission to re-evaluate the standard it uses to determine which network elements the incumbent local phone companies must unbundle. Today's order adopts a standard for determining whether incumbents must unbundle a network element. Applying the revised standard, the Commission reaffirmed that incumbents must provide unbundled access to six of the original seven network elements that it required to be unbundled in the original order in 1996: (1) loops, including loops used to provide high-capacity and advanced telecommunications services; (2) network interface devices; (3) local circuit switching (except for larger customers in major urban markets); (4) dedicated and shared transport; (5) signaling and call-related databases; and, (6) operations support systems. The Commission determined that it is generally no longer necessary for incumbent LECs to provide competitive carriers with the seventh element of the original list -- access to their operator and directory assistance services. The Commission concluded that the market has developed since 1996 to where competitors can and do self-provision these services, or acquire them from alternative sources. The Commission also concluded, in light of competitive deployment of switches in the major urban areas, that, subject to certain conditions, incumbent LECs need not provide access to unbundled local circuit switching for customers with four or more lines that are located in the densest parts of the top 50 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). The Commission also addressed the unbundling obligations for network elements that were not on the original list in 1996. The Commission required incumbents to provide unbundled access to subloops, or portions of loops, and dark fiber optic loops and transport. In addition, the Commission declined, except in limited circumstances, to require incumbent LECs to unbundle the facilities used to provide high-speed Internet access and other data services, specifically, packet switches and digital subscriber line access multiplexers (DSLAMs). Given the nascent nature of this market and the desire of the Commission to do nothing to discourage the rapid deployment of advanced services, the Commission declined to impose an obligation on incumbents to provide unbundled access to packet switching or DSLAMs at this time. The Commission further noted that competing carriers are aggressively deploying such equipment in order to serve this emerging market sector. Finally, the Commission also concluded that the record in this proceeding does not address sufficiently issues surrounding the ability of carriers to use certain unbundled network elements as a substitute for the incumbent LECs' special access services. The Commission therefore adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) seeking comment on these issues. Action by the Commission, September 15, 1999, by Third Report and Order and Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in CC Docket No. 96-98 (FCC 99-238). Chairman Kennard, Commissioners Ness and Tristani, with Commissioner Furchtgott-Roth concurring in part and dissenting in part and Commissioner Powell dissenting in part. Commissioners Ness, Furchtgott-Roth and Powell issuing statements. -FCC- Common Carrier Bureau Contacts: Carol Mattey , Claudia Fox, Jake Jennings at (202) 418-1580 Report No. CC 99-41

SUMMARY

Network Elements that Must be Unbundled

• Loops. Incumbent local exchange carriers (LECs) must offer unbundled access to loops, including high-capacity lines, xDSL-capable loops, dark fiber, and inside wire owned by the incumbent LEC. The unbundling of the high frequency portion of the loop is being considered in another proceeding.
• Subloops. Incumbent LECs must offer unbundled access to subloops, or portions of the loop, at any accessible point. Such points include, for example, a pole or pedestal, the network interface device, the minimum point of entry to the customer premises, and the feeder distribution interface located in, for example, a utility room, a remote terminal, or a controlled environment vault. If parties are unable to reach an agreement pursuant to voluntary negotiations about the technical feasibility of unbundling the loop at a specific point, the incumbent LEC will have the burden to demonstrate to the state that it is not technically feasible to unbundle the subloop at these points.
• Network Interface Device (NID). Incumbent LECs must offer unbundled access to NIDs throughout their service territory. The NID is a device used to connect loop facilities to inside wiring.
• Circuit Switching. Incumbent LECs must offer unbundled access to local circuit switching, except for switching used to serve end users with four or more lines in access density zone 1 (the densest areas) in the top 50 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), provided that the incumbent LEC provides non-discriminatory, cost-based access to the enhanced extended link. (An enhanced extended link (EEL) consists of a combination of an unbundled loop, multiplexing/concentrating equipment, and dedicated transport. The EEL allows new entrants to serve customers without having to collocate in every central office in the incumbent’s territory.)
• Interoffice Transmission Facilities. Incumbent LECs must unbundle dedicated interoffice transmission facilities, or transport, including dark fiber. Incumbent LECs must also unbundle shared transport (or interoffice transmission facilities that are shared by more than one carrier, including the incumbent) where unbundled local circuit switching is provided.
• Signaling and Call-Related Databases. Incumbent LECs must unbundle signaling links and signaling transfer points (STPs) in conjunction with unbundled switching, and on a stand-alone basis. Incumbent LECs must also offer unbundled access to call-related databases, including, but not limited to, the Line Information database (LIDB), Toll Free Calling database, Number Portability database, Calling Name (CNAM) database, Operator Services/Directory Assistance databases, Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) databases, and the AIN platform and architecture. The Commission found that incumbent LECs need not unbundle certain AIN software.
• Operations Support Systems (OSS). Incumbent LECs must unbundle OSS throughout their service territory. OSS consists of pre-ordering, ordering, provisioning, maintenance and repair, and billing functions supported by an incumbent LEC’s databases and information. The OSS element includes access to all loop qualification information contained in any of the incumbent LEC’s databases or other records needed for the provision of advanced services.

Network Elements that Need Not be Unbundled.

• Operator Services and Directory Assistance (OS/DA). Incumbent LECs are not required to unbundle their OS/DA services pursuant to section 251(c)(3), except in the limited circumstance where an incumbent LEC does not provide customized routing to a requesting carrier to allow it to route traffic to alternative OS/DA providers. Operator services are any automatic or live assistance to a consumer to arrange for billing or completion of a telephone call. Directory assistance is a service that allows subscribers to retrieve telephone numbers of other subscribers. Incumbent LECs, however, remain obligated under the non-discrimination requirements of section 251(b)(3) to comply with the reasonable request of a carrier that purchases the incumbents’ OS/DA services to rebrand or unbrand those services, and to provide directory assistance listings and updates in daily electronic batch files.
• Packet Switching. Incumbent LECs are not required to unbundle packet switching, except in the limited circumstance in which a requesting carrier is unable to install its Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) at the incumbent LEC’s remote terminal, and the incumbent LEC provides packet switching for its own use. Packet switching involves the routing of individual data message units based on address or other routing information and includes the necessary electronics (e.g., DSLAMs).

Modification of the National List.

• The Order recognizes that rapid changes in technology, competition, and the economic conditions of the telecommunications market will require a reevaluation of the national unbundling rules periodically. In order to encourage a reasonable period of certainty in the market, the Commission expects to reexamine the national list of unbundled network elements in three years.
• The Order permits state commissions to require incumbent LECs to unbundle additional elements as long as the obligations are consistent with the requirements of section 251 and the national policy framework instituted in this Order. The Order further concludes that the goals of the Act will better be served if network elements are not removed from the unbundling obligations of the Act on a state-by-state basis, at this time.

Combinations of Network Elements.

• Pursuant to section 51.315(b) of the Commission’s rules, incumbent LECs are required to provide access to combinations of loop, multiplexing/concentrating equipment and dedicated transport if they are currently combined.
• The Order does not address whether an incumbent LEC must combine network elements that are not already combined in the network, because that issue is pending before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

• The Commission sought comment on the legal and policy bases for precluding requesting carriers from substituting dedicated transport for special access entrance facilities.