PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 1919 M STREET, N.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 DA 98-139 News media information 202/418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov Released: January 27, 1998 COMMON CARRIER BUREAU ANNOUNCES MEETINGS ON SECTION 271 OF THE COMMUNICATIONS ACT The Communications Act lays out detailed requirements that Bell Operating Companies must meet in order for the Commission to approve an application for entry into the in-region interLATA market under section 271. Pursuant to the Act, the Commission considers applications by the Bell Operating Companies to enter the in-region interLATA market. The Common Carrier Bureau is making itself available to discuss general issues related to section 271 in the coming weeks. The purpose of these discussions is to provide applicants and others with informal preliminary guidance regarding issues arising under section 271 of the Act. The Commission will resolve specific applications based solely on the record filed with respect to each application. The public is reminded that disclosure procedures may apply to any communications that relate to specific section 271 applications. Consistent with the Commission's ex parte rules and the Commission's previously adopted section 271 procedures, once an application is filed the "permit but disclose" ex parte procedures will apply. See 47 C.F.R.  1.1206. Additionally, any ex parte presentations relating to a pending section 271 proceeding are subject to permit but disclose ex parte procedures. To facilitate the orderly conduct of these discussions, the Bureau proposes to group issues that are related or of similar levels of complexity, as follows: Group 1: 911 and E911 Services (Section 271(c)(2)(B)(vii)(I)) Directory Assistance Services (Section 271(c)(2)(B)(vii)(II)) Operator Call Completion Services (Section 271(c)(2)(B)(vii)(III)) White Pages Directory Listings (Section 271(c)(2)(B)(viii)) Numbering Administration (Section 271(c)(2)(B)(ix)) Local Dialing Parity (Section 271(c)(2)(B)(xii)) Group 2: Interconnection (Section 271(c)(2)(B)(i)) Poles, Ducts, Conduits, and Rights-of-Way (Section 271(c)(2)(B)(iii)) Databases and Associated Signaling (Section 271(c)(2)(B)(x)) Group 3: Local Loops (Section 271(c)(2)(B)(iv)) Local Transport (Section 271(c)(2)(B)(v)) Local Switching (Section 271(c)(2)(B)(vi)) Number Portability (Section 271(c)(2)(B)(xi)) Group 4: Operations Support Systems (Section 271(c)(2)(B)(ii)) Unbundled Network Elements (Section 271(c)(2)(B)(ii)) Group 5: Reciprocal Compensation (Section 271(c)(2)(B)(xiii)) Resale (Section 271(c)(2)(B)(xiv)) Group 6: Tracks A and B (Section 271(c)(1)(A) and (B)) Section 272 compliance (Section 271(d)(3)(B)) Persons wishing to schedule a meeting to discuss any of the topics listed above in reference to a particular Bell Operating Company should call the designated Commission representative for that Bell Operating Company at (202) 418-1580. The designated Commission representatives are: Ameritech: Brent Olson Bell Atlantic (North): Katherine Schroder Bell Atlantic (South): Lisa Choi BellSouth: Jordan Goldstein SBC: Jeannie Su U S West: Tonya Rutherford Action by the Chief, Common Carrier Bureau - FCC -