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FCC RIN: 3060-AH44 Publication ID: Fall 2008 
Title: Local Telephone Networks That LECs Must Make Available to Competitors 
Abstract: This revises the rules applicable to incumbent local exchange carriers (LECs) to permit competitive carriers to access portions of the incumbent LECs' networks on an unbundled basis. Unbundling allows competitors to lease portions of the incumbent LECs' network to provide telecommunications services. These rule changes are intended to remove uncertainty regarding the incumbent LECs' unbundling obligations under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and are expected to accelerate the development of local exchange competition. On December 20, 2001, the Commission issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to comprehensively consider the appropriate changes, if any, to its unbundling policies in light of market developments and technological advances. 67 FR 1947. On May 29, 2002, the Commission extended the reply comment date of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to July 17, 2002, to allow all interested parties to incorporate their review and analysis of USTA v. FCC, 290 F.3d 415 (D.C. Cir. 2002). On August 21, 2003, the Commission issued a Report and Order, Order on Remand, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, in which the Commission adopted new unbundling requirements. 68 FR 52276. In addition, the Commission initiated a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding whether the Commission should modify the so-called pick-and-choose rule that permits requesting carriers to opt into individual portions of interconnection agreements without accepting all the terms and conditions of such agreements. 68 FR 52307. On September 17, 2003, the Commission issued an Errata correcting the Report and Order and Order on Remand. On October 9, 2003, the Commission issued a Report seeking comment on ten petitions for clarification and/or reconsideration of the Report and Order and Order on Remand released on August 21, 2003. 68 FR 60391. By Order, the Commission denied a request to extend the comment period for petitions for clarification and/or reconsideration. On March 2, 2004, the Commission’s August 21, 2003 Report and Order and Order on Remand was affirmed in part and vacated and remanded in part. USTA v. FCC, 359 F.3d 554 (D.C. Cir. 2004). On July 13, 2004, the Commission’s Second Report and Order concluded the rulemaking proceeding initiated regarding the so-called pick-and-choose rule and determined that an all-or-nothing rule for opting into other interconnection agreements will better promote increased give and take negotiations. 69 FR 43762. On August 9, 2004, the Commission released an Order on Reconsideration addressing in part two petitions for reconsideration of the Commission’s fiber-to-the-premises unbundling rules. 69 FR 54589. The Commission clarified in this Order on Reconsideration the applicability of the fiber-to-the-premises rules in multi-dwelling unit buildings. On August 20, 2004, the Commission issued an Interim Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking establishing a new rulemaking proceeding to determine incumbent LEC unbundling obligations as well as establishing interim requirements to govern carrier relationships until the Commission concludes its rulemaking process. 69 FR 55111, 55128. On October 18, 2004, the Commission released and Order on Reconsideration concluding that fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC) loops shall be subject to the same unbundling framework that the Commission established for fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) loops. 69 FR 77950. On February 4, 2005, the Commission released an Order on Remand, 70 FR 8940, responding to the D.C. Circuit’s remand of certain parts of the Triennial Review Order, including several aspects of the impairment standard as well as new determinations regarding unbundling requirements for local circuit switching, high-capacity loops, and dedicated transport.  Specifically, the Commission determined that incumbent LECs have no obligation to unbundle local circuit switching and adopted a 12-month plan to transition existing customers of unbundled switching to other arrangements.  Regarding high-capacity loops, the Commission determined that competing carriers are not impaired (thus, are not entitled to access as UNEs) dark fiber loop circuits.  Competing carriers are, however, impaired without access to DS1 and DS3 loops, except in wire centers that meet specific business lines and fiber-based collocation thresholds. Similarly, with respect to dedicated transport, the Commission determined that competing carriers are impaired without access to DS1, DS3 and dark fiber transport, except on routes connecting a pair of wire centers, each containing a specified number of business lines or a specified number of fiber-based collocators. On March 14, 2005, the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued an order denying a petition filed by Verizon seeking a stay of the Commission's rule alowing competitive LECs to "convert" tariffed incumbent LEC special access arrangements to unbundled network element (UNE) arrangements if the competitive LEC is eligible to order the UNE(s) at issue. On April 25, 2005 and May 25, 2005, the Commission issued Public Notices establishing comment periods in response to petitions for reconsideration of the Commission's Order on Remand (Triennial Review Order). On June 16, 2006, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld the Commission's Order on Remand, 70 FR 8940. 
Agency: Federal Communications Commission(FCC)  Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Long-Term Actions 
Major: Undetermined  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 47 CFR 51 (Revision)   
Legal Authority: 47 USC 251   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
Second FNPRM  04/26/1999  64 FR 20238   
Fourth FNPRM  01/14/2000  65 FR 2367   
Errata Third R&O and Fourth FNPRM  01/18/2000  65 FR 2542   
Second Errata Third R&O and Fourth FNPRM  01/18/2000  65 FR 2542   
Supplemental Order  01/18/2000  65 FR 2542   
Third R&O  01/18/2000  65 FR 2542   
Correction  04/11/2000  65 FR 19334   
Supplemental Order Clarification  06/20/2000  65 FR 38214   
Public Notice  02/01/2001  66 FR 8555   
Public Notice  03/05/2001  66 FR 18279   
Public Notice  04/10/2001    
Public Notice  04/23/2001    
Public Notice  05/14/2001    
NPRM  01/15/2002  67 FR 1947   
Public Notice  05/29/2002    
Public Notice  08/01/2002    
Public Notice  08/13/2002    
NPRM  08/21/2003  68 FR 52276   
R&O and Order on Remand  08/21/2003  68 FR 52276   
Errata  09/17/2003    
Report  10/09/2003  68 FR 60391   
Order   10/28/2003    
Order  01/09/2004    
Public Notice  01/09/2004    
Public Notice  02/18/2004    
Order  07/08/2004    
Second R&O  07/08/2004  69 FR 43762   
Order on Recon  08/09/2004  69 FR 54589   
Interim Order  08/20/2004  69 FR 55111   
NPRM  08/20/2004  69 FR 55128   
Public Notice  09/10/2004    
Public Notice  09/13/2004    
Public Notice  10/20/2004    
Order on Recon  12/29/2004  69 FR 77950   
Order on Remand  02/04/2004    
Public Notice  04/25/2005  70 FR 29313   
Public Notice  05/25/2005  70 FR 34765   
Next Action Undetermined  To Be Determined    
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes  Government Levels Affected: Local, State 
Small Entities Affected: Businesses 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: Yes 
Agency Contact:
Tim Stelzig
Deputy Chief, Competition Policy Division
Federal Communications Commission
Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20554
Phone:202 418-0942
Email: tim.stelzig@fcc.gov