[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 189 (Friday, September 27, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50736-50737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24818]
[[Page 50736]]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 22
[FCC 96-339]
Competitive Service Safeguards for Local Exchange Carrier
Provision
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Final rule; waiver.
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SUMMARY: In this Memorandum Opinion and Order, the Commission grants
the Petition for Limited Waiver of Ameritech Communications
Incorporated (``ACI''). In the petition, ACI sought a limited waiver of
certain provisions of Section 22.903 of the Commission's rules, which
set forth limitations on Bell Operating Companies that provide cellular
service. As a result of the Commission's grant of the waiver, ACI is
allowed to provide cellular service with access to ACI's landline
facilities both inside and outside of Ameritech's region, on the
conditions described further below.
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 22, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane Halprin, Commercial Wireless
Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418-0620.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Memorandum Opinion and Order, in Docket
No. 95-14, adopted on August 9, 1996, and released on August 22, 1996,
is available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in
the FCC Reference Center, Room 230, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. The complete text may also be purchased from the Commission's copy
contractor, International Transcription Service, Inc., 2100 M Street,
N.W., Suite 140, Washington, D.C. 20037, (202) 857-3800.
Synopsis of the Memorandum Opinion and Order
I. Background
1. On October 11, 1995, Ameritech Communications, Incorporated
(``ACI'') filed a Petition for Limited Waiver (``Petition'') with the
Commission. The Petition sought a waiver of certain provisions of
Section 22.903 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR Sec. 22.903, which set
forth various limitations on Bell Operating Companies (``BOCs'') that
provide cellular service. Specifically, ACI, as an affiliate of
Ameritech Corporation (a BOC), sought a waiver of Section 22.903(a), 47
CFR Sec. 22.903(a), which prohibits BOC affiliates that provide
cellular service from owning any facilities for providing landline
telephone service. ACI also sought a waiver of Section 22.903(e), 47
CFR Sec. 22.903(e), which prohibits BOCs from promoting or selling
cellular service for their affiliates; ACI sought such a waiver to the
extent that the provision would prohibit it from promoting or selling
cellular service for Ameritech's cellular subsidiary, Ameritech
Cellular Services (``ACS''). According to its Petition, ACI contended
that it sought these limited waivers so that it could resell cellular
services, or sell cellular services as a sales agent for ACS, to ACI
customers, and thereby offer those customers one-stop shopping
opportunities.
2. On October 19, 1995, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
sought comment on ACI's Petition to determine whether the request was
consistent with the waiver criteria set forth in the Commission's
rules, and whether the request was consistent with the Commission's
public interest goals. See Public Notice, DA 95-2198, ``Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau Seeks Comment on Ameritech's Petition for
Partial Waiver of Section 22.903 of the Commission's Rules'' (released
October 19, 1995). The Bureau received several comments. In this
Memorandum Opinion and Order, the Commission grants ACI a waiver of
Section 22.903(a), and declaratory relief from Section 22.903(e).
II. Discussion
3. In its Petition, ACI, as a separate affiliate of Ameritech,
sought authority to provide wireless and wireline service, as a
facilities-based carrier. ACI sought a waiver of Section 22.903(a),
which prohibits BOC affiliates from owning facilities for providing
landline telephone service, because it needs to purchase switching
equipment for landline traffic. ACI also sought a waiver of Section
22.903(e), which prohibits BOC affiliates from promoting or selling
cellular service for another BOC affiliate, because ACI wishes to be a
sales agent for ACS. In support of its Petition, ACI explained that it
is a start-up carrier, and is structurally separate from Ameritech
Operating Companies in all material respects, thereby diminishing
opportunities for BOC cross-subsidization and interconnection
discrimination. Thus, ACI explained, a waiver would further the public
interest by promoting competition.
4. Several commenters opposed the waiver, claiming that a waiver
would be anticompetitive. However, based on the record in this
proceeding, and uncontroverted information received in another
proceeding, ``Ameritech Communication's Inc. Petition for Nondominant
Status'' (filed July 21, 1995), the Commission disagreed, and granted
the waiver.
5. The Commission concluded that ACI's relationship with Ameritech
and its other affiliates complies with the basic requirement of Section
22.903, which requires that BOCs provide cellular service through
structurally separate subsidiaries.
6. In granting the requested waiver, the Commission noted two
important events that transpired since ACI filed its Petition. First,
the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was enacted. Public Law No. 104-104,
110 Stat. 56 (1996), amending the Communications Act of 1934, as
amended, 47 U.S.C. Secs. 151 et seq. Section 601(d) of the Act permits
ACI to engage in joint marketing and resale of cellular services with
landline services on the terms set forth in its Petition. However, the
Commission stated that it would continue to apply the other
requirements of Section 22.903 to ACI (except for 22.903(a), for which
a waiver was granted, as explained below). Thus, the Commission noted
that ``joint sales'' or resale by ACI of Ameritech's cellular services
together with landline services must involve services acquired on an
arm's length basis from ACI's affiliates, consistent with the affiliate
transaction accounting rules and with the basic structural separation
requirement of Section 22.903. The Commission observed that, because
ACI is already established as a structurally separate affiliate, this
requirement conforms not only with Section 601(d) but also with ACI's
business plan. The Commission thus granted declaratory relief from
Section 22.903(e), subject to certain conditions, discussed above.
7. The second development since ACI filed its petition is that the
Commission has commenced a comprehensive review of competitive
safeguards as they apply to local exchange carriers that provide
commercial radio services (``CMRS''), including BOCs that provide
cellular service. In the CMRS Safeguards Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,
61 FR 46420 (September 3, 1996), the Commission proposed to amend
Section 22.903(a) to permit a BOC cellular affiliate to own landline
facilities for the provision of competitive landline local exchange
service. The Commission has already waived Section 22.903(a) for all
BOC affiliates' out-of-region operations (i.e., regions where the BOC
is not the local exchange carrier), including ACI. The Commission
concluded that ACI's separation from Ameritech's other affiliates
provided a substantial basis for extending a waiver for ACI's in-region
[[Page 50737]]
operations as well. ACI's separation from both incumbent cellular
operations and from incumbent local exchange operations lessens the
Commission's concerns about improper cross-subsidization and
discriminatory interconnection practices. Therefore, the Commission
decided to permit ACI to provide cellular service with access to the
landline facilities, both inside and outside Ameritech's region, as
long as ACI remains structurally separate from Ameritech's telephone
local exchange operating companies and its cellular affiliate.
III. Ordering Clauses
It is ordered that, pursuant to Sections 4 and 303 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. Secs. 154 and 303,
and Sections 1.3 and 22.119 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR Secs. 1.3
and 22.119, a waiver of Section 22.903(a), 47 CFR Sec. 22.903(a), is
GRANTED to Ameritech Communications, Incorporated.
It is further ordered that, pursuant to Sections 4 and 303 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. Secs. 154 and 303,
and Section 1.2 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR Sec. 1.2, Ameritech
Communications, Incorporated, IS DECLARED not subject to Section
22.903(e), subject to the conditions discussed herein.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 22
Radio.
Federal Communications Commission.
Shirley S. Suggs,
Chief, Publications Branch.
[FR Doc. 96-24818 Filed 9-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
