Common carrier services: Telecommunications Act of 1996; implementation— Local exchange carriers' intelligent networks; third party access; rulemaking proceeding terminated,

[Federal Register: December 18, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 243)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 70089-70090]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr18de98-47]

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Ch. I

[CC Docket No. 91-346; FCC 98-322]

Intelligent Networks

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Termination of proposed rule proceeding.

SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission terminates the proceeding concerning third-party access to the local exchange carriers' intelligent networks. Since we conclude that most of the issues raised in this proceeding have been addressed by the Local Competition Order, or are being considered in the Computer III Further Notice, which is the Commission's current review of its Open Network Architecture (ONA) and Computer III requirements, we terminate this proceeding.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Claudia Fox, Attorney, Common Carrier Bureau, Policy and Program Planning Division, (202) 418-1580 or via the Internet at cfox@fcc.gov. Further information may also be obtained by calling the Common Carrier Bureau's TTY number: 202-418-0484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Order adopted December 2, 1998, and released December 4, 1998. The full text of this Order is available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center, 1919 M St., NW, Room 239, Washington, DC. The complete text of this document also may be obtained through the World Wide Web, at http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common Carrier/Orders/fcc98322.wp, or may be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription Service, Inc., (202) 857- 3800, 1231 20th St., NW, Washington, DC 20036.

Synopsis of Order

1. In this Order, we terminate the proceeding concerning third- party access to the local exchange carriers' (LECs') intelligent networks. We conclude that most of the issues raised in this proceeding have been addressed by the Local Competition Order, 61 FR 45476, August 29, 1996, or are being considered in the Computer III Further Notice, 63 FR 9749, February 26, 1998, which is the Commission's current review of its Open Network Architecture (ONA) and Computer III requirements.

2. The Commission initiated the Intelligent Networks proceeding (56 FR 65721, Dec. 18, 1991) in 1991 to consider whether the Commission should apply ONA requirements for the unbundling of network functionalities to the LECs' deployment of intelligent network technology. In 1993, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposed requiring all Tier 1 LECs that deploy advanced intelligent networks (AIN) to provide third parties with mediated access to those capabilities. The Commission specifically proposed to require that Tier 1 LECs provide third parties with access to their service management systems for the creation and deployment of AIN-based services.

3. In February 1996, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act) became law, bringing sweeping changes to regulation of the telecommunications industry. Among other things, section 251 of the Act requires that incumbent LECs: (1) provide interconnection with requesting telecommunications carriers; (2) provide requesting telecommunications carriers with access to unbundled network elements; (3) offer retail services for resale at wholesale rates; and (4) provide physical collocation necessary for interconnection or access to unbundled network elements at the premises of the incumbent LEC.

4. In August 1996, the Commission adopted regulations that implement the local competition provisions of the 1996 Act. With respect to AIN, the Commission determined that it was technically feasible for incumbent LECs to provide requesting telecommunication carriers with unbundled access to both the service creation environment and service management system, and access to the service control point for the purpose of interconnecting with a requesting carrier's switch. The Commission also concluded that there was not enough evidence to determine the technical feasibility of interconnecting third-party call-related databases to the incumbent LEC's signaling system.

5. On January 30, 1998, the Commission released the Computer III Further Notice, which proposes to revise the safeguards under which the Bell Operating Companies provide information services in light of the requirements of the 1996 Act. Among

   [[Page 70090]]

   other things, the Commission sought comment on whether the public interest would be served by Commission action, pursuant to our general rulemaking authority, to extend the availability of unbundling similar to that provided for in section 251 of the Act to information service providers. These entities do not have access to unbundled network elements under section 251 of the Act because they are not telecommunications carriers.

6. Most of the proposals in this proceeding concerning access to AIN by telecommunications carriers were adopted by the Commission in the Local Competition Order. Most of the issues in this proceeding concerning access to AIN by information service providers are now under consideration in the Computer III Further Notice. Based on the information currently available to us, it does not appear that there is a need to address the few remaining issues in this proceeding at present. If a need for consideration of these issues should arise in the future, we will institute appropriate proceedings.

7. Accordingly, it is ordered that the proceeding, In the Matter of Intelligent Networks, CC Docket No. 91-346, is hereby terminated.

   Federal Communications Commission. Shirley S. Suggs, Chief, Publications Branch.

   [FR Doc. 98-33484Filed12-17-98; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 6712-01-P