FCC said in U.S. Appeals Court, D.C., filing last week that ‘Comm...
FCC said in U.S. Appeals Court, D.C., filing last week that “Commission staff is investigating the circumstances surrounding the filing” by SBC of inaccurate information on its long distance applications in Okla. and Kan. SBC had said last month…
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that it informed regulators that it inappropriately had described way in which “our highly technical and complex computer systems provide loop qualification information to competitors interested in providing DSL service.” Information had been in support of carrier’s Sec. 271 applications for Kan. and Okla., which FCC already has granted. FCC’s statement that it “is investigating” circumstances of SBC affidavits appeared in footnote in Commission brief filed Thurs. Brief was agency’s response to challenge filed by Sprint appealing FCC order giving SBC Sec. 271 approval to enter long distance markets in Kan. and Okla. (CD Jan. 23 p2). AT&T and WorldCom also filed appeals, charging SBC didn’t offer cost-based pricing for network elements in violation of Telecom Act. Additional information provided by SBC that has inaccurate information isn’t connected to underlying issues of court case, FCC said. “We will keep the court apprised of further developments in this matter,” FCC said. Wall St. Journal reported Fri. that some misstatements by SBC emerged in recent Commission review of SBC’s application to offer long distance service in Mo. and that FCC was investigating information provided for Sec. 271 filings in several states. (On unrelated grounds, SBC earlier this month withdrew its Sec. 271 application to provide long distance in Mo., saying it would come back to Commission with additional information supporting its bid.) SBC spokesman declined to comment Fri. on investigation of Okla. and Kan., but said: “There is no investigation into our Missouri application, and any speculation otherwise is just wrong information.” CompTel Pres. Russell Frisby said: “If the allegations are correct, they represent a serious violation of the Commission’s rules.” CompTel had asked FCC last month to investigate SBC’s submission of information in Kan. and Okla. filings. Questions on accuracy of Sec. 271 fillings come as Commission is preparing to process larger volume of long distance applications this year as Bell companies step up pace of filings. “We expect that the Commission is going to have an increased workload,” Frisby said. “The Commission is not up to full staff. This means this creates a dilemma. That’s why it’s important to investigate the SBC allegations.” FCC spokesman declined to comment.