******************************************************** NOTICE ******************************************************** This document was converted from WordPerfect or Word to ASCII Text format. Content from the original version of the document such as headers, footers, footnotes, endnotes, graphics, and page numbers will not show up in this text version. All text attributes such as bold, italic, underlining, etc. from the original document will not show up in this text version. Features of the original document layout such as columns, tables, line and letter spacing, pagination, and margins will not be preserved in the text version. If you need the complete document, download the WordPerfect version or Adobe Acrobat version, if available. ***************************************************************** FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20554 Adopted: September 18, 2000 Released: September 19, 2000 Mr. Jeff Ward Senior Vice President Regulatory Compliance Verizon Communications 1310 North Courthouse Rd. - 4th floor Arlington, VA 22201 Dear Mr. Ward: A condition of the Commission's approval of the Bell Atlantic/GTE merger requires that the merged company ("Verizon") comply with a Carrier-to-Carrier Performance Plan. This condition requires Verizon to report to the Commission, on a monthly basis, the results of 17 performance measurements ("FCC Measurements") that document Verizon's provisioning of services to competitive LECs. The Bell Atlantic/GTE Merger Order further requires Verizon, within 30 days of the Merger Close Date, to propose to the Common Carrier Bureau ("Bureau") "an additional performance measurement, or an additional sub- measurement, to measure Verizon's performance with respect to the provisioning of line sharing." Verizon must implement the new measurement or sub-measurement within 90 days of receiving written notice of the Bureau's approval. On July 31, 2000, Verizon proposed to meet this obligation by adding two line sharing measurements to existing provisioning metrics in the FCC Measurements. Specifically, Verizon proposed to modify the FCC Measurements by further disaggregating one measurement for the former Bell Atlantic states, PR-4 Missed Appointments, and one for the former GTE states, PR-4 Missed Due Dates, to show Verizon's provisioning performance for line shared loops. The Bureau has reviewed the proposed measurements and directs Verizon to implement them within 90 days of receiving this letter. Capturing Verizon's provisioning of line sharing is a crucial step toward developing a fuller picture of Verizon's performance in unbundling its local network. Complete and accurate reporting of these new measurements, as well as any resulting from state action that are incorporated into the FCC Measurements, is essential to Verizon's compliance with the Merger Order. I understand that the California Public Utilities Commission is considering changes to its performance measurements to reflect incumbent LECs' line sharing obligations. Under the Merger Conditions, Verizon must notify the Bureau of any changes adopted by either the California or New York commissions if their implementation would affect the FCC Measurements and wait for Bureau approval before implementing those changes. I expect that you will notify the Bureau promptly, as required by the Merger Conditions, as soon as such new line sharing performance measurements are adopted by a state commission. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance. You may also contact Mark Stone in the Common Carrier Bureau directly at (202) 418-0816 for further information on this matter. Sincerely, Carol E. Mattey Deputy Chief, Common Carrier Bureau