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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.      )
                                )
Forest  City  Telecom,  Inc.  v. )    File No. EB-02-MDIC-0007
AT&T Corp.,                      )
                                )    File No. EB-02-MDIC-0040
Clarence   Telephone    Company, )
Inc. d/b/a Cedar  Communications 
v. AT&T Corp.


                              ORDER

       Adopted:  January 21, 2003       Released:   January   22, 
     2003

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

     1.   In November and December 2001 and April 2002, pursuant 
to section 1.716 of the Commission rules,1 Farmers' and Business 
Mens' Telephone Co., Forest City Telecom, Inc., and Clarence 
Telephone Company, Inc. d/b/a Cedar Communications (collectively 
``Informal Complaint Plaintiffs'') filed informal complaints 
against defendant AT&T Corp. (``AT&T'') in the above-captioned 
matters.  On March 11, 2002 and July 19, 2002, AT&T filed reports 
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 April 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 January 23, 2003 to file 
formal complaints.4 

Two of the Informal Complaint Plaintiffs recently reported that 
they have settled their disputes and are in the processing of 
completing the settlement process.  The remaining Informal 
Complaint Plaintiff also reported that it is currently engaged in 
substantive negotiations with AT&T to settle its dispute.  In 
light of the progress made in the parties' continuing efforts to 
settle these matters, on January 17, 2003, Informal Complaint 
Plaintiffs filed a ninth 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 February 7, 2003, 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 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, 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, 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 Clarence Telephone 
company, Inc. d/b/a Cedar Communications 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 February 7, 2003.

                         FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION




                         Alexander P. Starr
                         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  Clarence Telephone Company,  Inc. d/b/a Cedar  Communications 
v. AT&T Corp., File No. EB-02-MDIC-0040, Order, DA 02-3492  (EB-
MDRD rel. Dec. 20, 2002); Farmers' and Business Mens'  Telephone 
Co., et al.  v. AT&T  Corp. File  Nos. EB-02-MDIC-003,  005-007, 
Order, DA 02-3467  (EB-MDRD rel.  Dec. 17,  2002); Farmers'  and 
Business Mens' Telephone Co., et al. v. AT&T Corp. File Nos. EB-
02-MDIC-003, 005-007, Order,  DA 02-3305 (EB-MDRD  rel. Dec.  2, 
2002); Farmers' and Business Mens' Telephone Co., et al. v. AT&T 
Corp. File Nos. EB-02-MDIC-003, 005-007, Order, DA 02-3182  (EB-
MDRD rel. Nov. 18, 2002); Farmers' and Business Mens'  Telephone 
Co., et al.  v. AT&T  Corp. File  Nos. EB-02-MDIC-003,  005-007, 
Order, DA  02-3013 (EB-MDRD  rel. Nov.  4, 2002);  Farmers'  and 
Business Mens' Telephone Co., et al. v. AT&T Corp. File Nos. EB-
02-MDIC-003, 005-007, Order, DA  02-2758 (EB-MDRD rel. Oct.  22, 
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);  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);  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).

5   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, 007,  and 
0040 (filed Jan. 17, 2003).

6   Id. at 2.

7  Id.