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 FCC NEWS

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
445 12th STREET S.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554

News media information 202/418-0500
TTY 202/418-2555
Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830
Internet http://www.fcc.gov
ftp://ftp.fcc.gov
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission Action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 516 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 September 14, 2001
 NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
 John Winston (202) 418-7450



FCC ENFORCEMENT BUREAU AND VERIZON ENTER INTO CONSENT DECREE; VERIZON TO PAY $77,000 AND IMPLEMENT REMEDIAL ACTIONS TO HELP ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH LOCAL COMPETITION RULE

Washington, D.C. - Today, the Enforcement Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that it has entered into a Consent Decree with Verizon Communications, Inc. (Verizon), under which Verizon will make a voluntary payment of $77,000 to the United States Treasury and will take certain remedial actions regarding its collocation practices. Today's action by the Enforcement Bureau terminates an investigation into Verizon's compliance with a Commission rule requiring it to promptly notify competitors when a Verizon office has run out of collocation space. The purpose of this rule is to ensure that competitors do not waste time and resources applying for collocation space where none exists.

Commission rules requires incumbent local exchange carriers to post notice on publicly available Internet sites, and within 10 days, when one of their premises has run out of collocation space. The Enforcement Bureau initiated an investigation after an independent audit of Verizon's compliance with the Commission's collocation rules raised questions as to whether Verizon might have violated this posting requirement.

Action by the Chief, Enforcement Bureau, September 10, 2001, Order (DA 01-2079).

Enforcement Bureau Contacts: John R. Winston, 418-7450, and Elizabeth H. Valinoti, 202-418-1529.