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                         Before the
              Federal Communications Commission
                   Washington, D.C. 20554



In the Matter of                  )
                                 )
Farmers'   and   Business  Mens'  )   File No. EB-02-MDIC-0003
Telephone Co. v. AT&T Corp.       )
                                 )
Heart  of  Iowa  Communications,  )   File No. EB-02-MDIC-0006
Inc. v.                           )
AT&T Corp.                        )   File No. EB-02-MDIC-0007
                                 )
Forest  City  Telecom,  Inc.  v. 
AT&T Corp.


                            ORDER

       Adopted:  October 21, 2002       Released:    October 
     22, 2002

By the Chief, Market Disputes Resolution Division, 
Enforcement Bureau:

     1.   In November and December 2001 and January 2002, 
pursuant to section 1.716 of the Commission rules,1 Farmers' 
and Business Mens' Telephone Co., Forest City Telecom, Inc., 
and Heart of Iowa Communications, Inc. (collectively 
``Informal Complaint Plaintiffs'') filed informal complaints 
against defendant AT&T Corp. (``AT&T'') in the above-
captioned matters.  On March 11, 2002, AT&T filed a report 
pursuant to section 1.717 of the Commission's rules2 denying 
the allegations in the Informal Complaint Plaintiffs' 
informal complaints.  Pursuant to section 1.718 of the 
Commission's rules,3 the Informal Complaint Plaintiffs were 
required to convert their informal complaints into formal 
complaints within six months from the date of AT&T's report 
to ensure that the formal complaints related back to the 
November and December 2001 and January 2002 filing dates of 
the informal complaints for purposes of the statute of 
limitations.  The Commission previously granted Informal 
Complaint Plaintiffs' consent motions for additional time to 
convert the informal complaints, allowing the Informal 
Complaint Plaintiffs until October 23, 2002 to file formal 
complaints.4 

In light of the progress made in the parties' continuing 
efforts to settle these matters, on October 18, 2002, 
Informal Complaint Plaintiffs filed a fourth Consent Motion 
To Extend Time In Which To Convert Informal Complaints To 
Formal Complaints and Toll Limitations Period.5  The 
Informal Complaint Plaintiffs request another waiver of 
section 1.718 of the Commission's rules and an additional 
extension of time until November 6, 2002, to convert their 
informal complaints against AT&T into formal complaints, if 
necessary.6  Counsel for AT&T has consented to the Informal 
Complaint Plaintiffs' request.7

We are satisfied that granting the Informal Complaint 
Plaintiffs' consent motion will serve the public interest by 
promoting the private resolution of disputes and by 
postponing the need for further litigation and expenditure 
of further time and resources of the parties and of this 
Commission until such time as may actually be necessary.

Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to sections 4(i), 4(j), 
and 208 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 
U.S.C. §§ 154(i), 154(j), and 208, and sections 1.3 and 
1.718 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.3, 1.718, 
and the authority delegated in sections 0.111 and 0.311 of 
the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.111, 0.311, that the 
Fourth Consent Motion of Complainants For Extension of Time 
In Which To Convert Informal Complaints To Formal Complaint 
and Toll Limitations Period IS GRANTED.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, unless otherwise extended by 
order, the deadlines that would otherwise apply under 
section 1.718 of our rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.718, are hereby 
waived, and the date on which Farmers' and Business Mens' 
Telephone Co., Forest City Telecom, Inc., and Heart of Iowa 
Communications, Inc. must convert their informal complaints 
against AT&T Corp. into formal complaints pursuant to 
section 1.718 of our rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.718, is extended 
to November 6, 2002.

                         FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION




                         Radhika V. Karmarkar
                         Deputy   Chief,   Market   Disputes 
                    Resolution Division
                         Enforcement Bureau
_________________________

1  47 C.F.R. § 1.716.

2  47 C.F.R. § 1.717.

3  47 C.F.R. § 1.718.

4  Mark Twain Communications Company,  et al. v. AT&T Corp. 
File Nos.  EB-02-MDIC-003, 005-007, Order, DA  02-2204 (EB-
MDRD  rel. Sept.  10,  2002); Farmers'  and Business  Mens' 
Telephone Co., et  al. v. AT&T Corp.  File Nos. EB-02-MDIC-
003,  005-007, Order,  DA 02-2204  (EB-MDRD rel.  Sept. 25, 
2002); Farmers' and Business Mens' Telephone Co., et al. v. 
AT&T Corp. File Nos. EB-02-MDIC-003, 005-007, Order, DA 02-
2552 (EB-MDRD rel. Oct. 9, 2002).

5   Fourth Consent Motion  Of Complainants For Extension of 
Time  In Which  To  Convert Informal  Complaints To  Formal 
Complaints  and  Toll   Limitations  Period,  Farmers'  and 
Business Mens'  Telephone Co. v.  AT&T Corp., et  al., File 
Nos.  EB-02-MDIC-003, 005-008,  and  0826  (filed Oct.  18, 
2002).

6   Id. at 2.

7  Id.