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



MCI  WORLDCOM  Network Services,  )
Inc.,                             )
                                 )
               Complainant,       )
                                 )   File No. EB-02-MDIC-0037
v.                                )
                                 )
Allegiance Telecom, Inc.,         )
                                 )
               Defendant.


                            ORDER

       Adopted:  April 17, 2003         Released:  April 21, 
     2003

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

On May 31, 2002, pursuant to section 1.716 of the Commission 
rules,1 MCI WORLDCOM Network Services, Inc. (``WorldCom'') 
filed an informal complaint against defendant Allegiance 
Telecom, Inc. (``Allegiance'') in the above-captioned 
matter.2  On July 15, 2002, Allegiance filed a report 
pursuant to section 1.717 of the Commission's rules3 denying 
the allegations in WorldCom's Informal Complaint.4  Pursuant 
to section 1.718 of the Commission's rules,5 WorldCom must 
convert its Informal Complaint into a formal complaint 
within six months of the date of Allegiance's report to 
ensure that the formal complaint relates back to the May 31, 
2002 filing date of the Informal Complaint for statute of 
limitations purposes.  The Commission previously granted 
WorldCom's consent motions for additional time to convert 
its informal complaint, allowing WorldCom until April 18, 
2003 to file a formal complaint.6

Since the filing of the Informal Complaint, with some 
assistance from Commission staff, WorldCom and Allegiance 
have engaged in negotiations to resolve the disputed issues 
raised in WorldCom's Informal Complaint.7  As a result of 
these negotiations, the parties recently executed a 
settlement agreement which is contingent upon bankruptcy 
court approval.8  The parties are endeavoring to have the 
agreement approved by the bankruptcy court by the end of May 
2003.9  Because of the length of time associated with the 
bankruptcy court approval process, WorldCom requests another 
waiver of section 1.718 of the Commission's rules and 
extension of time until June 4, 2003 to convert its Informal 
Complaint against Allegiance into a formal complaint, if 
necessary.10  Allegiance has consented to WorldCom's 
request.11

We are satisfied that granting WorldCom's 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 
Consent Motion of MCI WORLDCOM Network Services, Inc. 
Requesting Waiver of Section 1.718 of the Commission's Rules 
and Further Extension of Time In Which to Convert Its 
Informal Complaint to a Formal Complaint and Toll the 
Limitations Period IS GRANTED.

IT IS FURTHER 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, 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 MCI WORLDCOM Network Services, Inc. must 
convert its Informal Complaint against Allegiance Telecom, 
Inc. into a formal complaint pursuant to section 1.718 of 
our rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.718, is extended to June 4, 2003.

                         FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION




                         Alexander P. Starr
                         Chief,  Market Disputes  Resolution 
                    Division
                         Enforcement Bureau
_________________________

1   47 C.F.R. § 1.716.

2   Letter from Kecia Boney-Lewis, Counsel for MCI WorldCom 
Network  Services,  Inc.,  to Alexander  P.  Starr,  Chief, 
Market  Disputes Resolution  Division, Enforcement  Bureau, 
FCC (filed June 3, 2002) (``Informal Complaint'').

3   47 C.F.R. § 1.717.

4    Letter from  Mary  C. Albert,  Counsel for  Allegiance 
Telecom,  Inc.,  to  Alexander   P.  Starr,  Chief,  Market 
Disputes Resolution Division, Enforcement Bureau, FCC, File 
No. EB-02-MDIC-0037 (filed July 15, 2002).

5   47 C.F.R. § 1.718.

6   MCI  WorldCom  Network  Services,  Inc.  v.  Allegiance 
Telecom, Inc., Order, File  No. EB-02-MDIC-0037, DA 03-1083 
(EB-MDRD  rel.   April  4,  2003);  MCI   WorldCom  Network 
Services, Inc. v. Allegiance Telecom, Inc., Order, File No. 
EB-02-MDIC-0037, DA  03-836 (EB-MDRD  rel. Mar.  21, 2003); 
MCI WorldCom Network Services,  Inc. v. Allegiance Telecom, 
Inc., Order,  File No. EB-02-MDIC-0037, DA  03-787 (EB-MDRD 
rel. Mar. 17, 2003); MCI WorldCom Network Services, Inc. v. 
Allegiance Telecom, Inc.,  Order, File No. EB-02-MDIC-0037, 
DA  03-478  (EB-MDRD  rel.  Feb. 24,  2003);  MCI  WorldCom 
Network Services, Inc. v.  Allegiance Telecom, Inc., Order, 
File No.  EB-02-MDIC-0037, DA 03-371 (EB-MDRD  rel. Feb. 7, 
2003); MCI  WorldCom Network  Services, Inc.  v. Allegiance 
Telecom, Inc.,  Order, File No. EB-02-MDIC-0037,  DA 03-207 
(EB-MDRD rel. Jan. 9, 2003).

7     Consent Motion of MCI WORLDCOM Network Services, Inc. 
Requesting  Waiver of  Section  1.718  of the  Commission's 
Rules and Further Extension of Time In Which to Convert Its 
Informal  Complaint  to a  Formal  Complaint  and Toll  the 
Limitations  Period, File  No. EB-02-MDIC-0037  (filed Apr. 
17, 2003) at 2.

8     Id. 

9     Id at 3.

10   Id.

11   Id.