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                            Before the
                FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                      Washington, D.C. 20554


                                   )
In the Matter of                        )         File   No.  
EB-02-IH-0568
                                   )                   
                                        )         Acct.  No.  
20033208000
                                   )
Verizon Telephone Companies             )         FRN No.  
0003708500
                                   )                             

                              ORDER 

          Adopted:  February 28, 2003        Released:  
March 4, 2003

By the Commission:

     1.   The Commission has been conducting an 
investigation into possible violations by the Verizon 
Telephone Companies (``Verizon'') of sections 271(a) and (b) 
and 272(g)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 
in connection with the marketing and provisioning of in-
region interLATA services in states where Verizon has not 
received authorization to provide such services pursuant to 
section 271 of the Act.1

     2.   The Commission and Verizon have negotiated the 
terms of a Consent Decree that would terminate the 
Commission's investigation.  A copy of the Consent Decree is 
attached hereto and is incorporated by reference.
     
     3.   We have reviewed the terms of the Consent Decree 
and evaluated the facts before us.  We believe that the 
public interest would be served by approving the Consent 
Decree and terminating the investigation.

     4.   Based on the record before us, and in the absence 
of material new evidence relating to this matter, we 
conclude that there are no substantial and material 
questions of fact as to whether Verizon possesses the basic 
qualifications, including its character qualifications, to 
hold or obtain any FCC licenses or authorizations.     

     5.   Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to sections 
4(i) and 4(j) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 
47 U.S.C. §§ 154(i) and 154(j) that the Consent Decree, 
incorporated by reference in and attached to this order, is 
hereby ADOPTED. 
     
     6.   IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Secretary SHALL 
SIGN the Consent Decree on behalf of the Commission.

     7.   IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the above captioned 
investigation IS TERMINATED.


                         FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION



                         Marlene H. Dortch
                         Secretary
_________________________

1 See Letter from Maureen F. Del Duca, Deputy Chief, 
Investigations and Hearings Division, Enforcement Bureau, to 
Gordon R. Evans, Vice President, Federal Regulatory, 
Verizon, and Dee May, Assistant Vice President, Federal 
Regulatory, Verizon, dated July 9, 2002 (``LOI'').