Qwest is providing in-region interLATA services in violation of S...
Qwest is providing in-region interLATA services in violation of Sec. 271 of Telecom Act, AT&T charged in May 1 letter to FCC. AT&T said information was apparent in auditor’s report that Qwest filed under conditions of Qwest-U S West…
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merger: “The auditor’s report finds that in-region private line services for 266 customers were billed and branded as Qwest services” with revenue in excess of $2.2 million for 8 months. AT&T said Qwest’s defense -- that it didn’t transport that traffic itself -- wasn’t sufficient because FCC had held that offering 3rd party long distance service under Bell company brand was considered part of prohibited provision of service. AT&T also complained that report was “incomplete” because certain contracts weren’t made available to auditors, including Qwest’s teaming agreements with other carriers to provide long distance service to federal agencies. Qwest has acknowledged it offers long distance services to federal agencies in conjunction with Touch America, AT&T said. “Although these contracts raise obvious and significant Section 271 concerns, there is no mention of them in the auditor’s report.” FCC should “act promptly to impose appropriate sanctions on Qwest,” AT&T said. Letter went to Dorothy Attwood, chief of Common Carrier Bureau, and David Solomon, chief of Enforcement Bureau.