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                          July 23, 2003

Melissa Newman
Vice President-Federal Regulatory
Qwest Communications International, Inc.
607 14th Street, N.W.
Suite 950
Washington, D.C.  20005

RE:  Section 271 Compliance Review Program for Minnesota 

Dear Ms. Newman:

     The Commission has granted Qwest Communications 
International, Inc. (``Qwest'') authorization to provide interLATA 
services in Minnesota, pursuant to section 271 of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the ``Act'').1  The 
Enforcement Bureau (``Bureau'') will monitor Qwest's compliance 
with section 271 in Minnesota through the Section 271 Compliance 
Review Program.  This program is based on a structured and 
systematic approach to compliance review and enforcement.  The 
Bureau has assigned a team of auditors, attorneys, and other 
professional staff from the Investigations and Hearings Division 
(``Compliance Review Team'' or ``Team'') to work with Qwest 
through the duration of the review and to monitor Qwest's 
performance in the states where it has received section 271 
approval.  The primary team members responsible for this review 
are Mika Savir, Attorney Advisor, and Robert Bentley, Auditor.

     During the review, the Team will closely review Qwest's 
performance in subject matter areas that the Commission has 
identified as areas of concern in the Qwest Order.  In this 
regard, we have attached a list of areas about which the 
Commission expressed its concern in the Qwest Order.  The Bureau 
will focus its review on these areas and relevant performance 
measurements; however, it may also monitor other areas not noted 
by the Commission in the Qwest Order.  

     The Bureau's review will occur in three phases:

     Phase 1:  The Phase 1 review will occur during the first six 
months following the section 271 grant.  Shortly after the grant 
of approval, a representative from the Bureau will contact Qwest 
to schedule a planning meeting with Qwest representatives and the 
Team overseeing the review.  The purpose of this meeting is to 
provide Qwest with the opportunity to participate in developing 
the Review Program and to assist the Bureau in determining the 
type and format of information pertaining to Qwest's performance 
that the Team will review.  

     At the meeting, Qwest should be prepared to discuss the areas 
of concern that the Commission noted in the Qwest Order (also 
listed in the attachment to this letter) and to identify 
knowledgeable employees, applicable corporate records, and 
computer systems related to these areas.  We will also discuss 
consolidating this compliance review with the Qwest 9-state and 3-
state review.  

     Qwest should provide the names and contact information of 
Qwest employees authorized to respond to requests for information.  
Following the meeting, the Team will send a follow-up letter to 
Qwest memorializing the discussions at the meeting and describing 
the information Qwest is responsible for submitting to the Bureau 
approximately six months after the approval date.  The Team will 
also continue to monitor Qwest's performance during Phase 1 
through the monthly carrier-to-carrier performance reports.

     Phase 2:  The Phase 2 review will occur during the second 
six-month period after the grant.  This phase of the review 
contemplates the issuance of a request for information directing 
Qwest to update information submitted previously, and to provide 
additional information concerning its performance since the Phase 
1 review.  The information responsive to this request will be due 
at the end of the Phase 2 review period.  The Team will continue 
to monitor Qwest's performance through the carrier-to-carrier 
reports.  The Team will not limit its review in Phase 2 to 
performance data or information derived from the second six-month 
period; rather, when evaluating the need for any further action, 
the Team will consider all of the post-authorization data and 
information.

     Phase 3:  The third phase of the review will begin after 
Qwest submits the information the Team required in Phase 2.  
During this phase the Bureau may make informal inquiries of Qwest 
regarding its section 271 compliance and will investigate 
instances of suspected or alleged noncompliance.

     At any time during this review, the Team may ask Qwest to 
provide additional information.  The Team may also request 
additional meetings with Qwest employees who have expertise in 
specific subject matters.  These additional inquiries may 
supplement existing requests or may encompass new inquiries.

     If you have any general questions concerning the issues 
raised in this letter, please feel free to contact Ms. Savir at 
(202) 418-0384 or Mr. Bentley at (202) 418-0876.  Thank you in 
advance for your cooperation.

                              Sincerely,


                              William Davenport
                              Deputy Chief
                              Investigations and Hearings Division
                              Enforcement Bureau

Enclosure

                            Attachment
        Commission-Identified Compliance Review Subjects2

I.   Checklist Item 2:  Unbundled Network Elements -- OSS
       I.A.1.     Pre-Ordering (Qwest Order ¶ 19)
       I.A.2.     Ordering  (Qwest Order ¶¶ 20-25)
       I.A.3.     Maintenance and Repair (Qwest Order ¶¶ 26-29)
       I.A.4.     Billing  (Qwest Order ¶¶ 30-38)
       I.A.5.     Change management  (Qwest Order ¶ 39)
II.    Other Checklist Items -- Unbundled Local Loops  (Qwest 
  Order ¶¶ 53-57)
III.   Public Interest Analysis -- Unfiled Interconnection 
  Agreements (Qwest Order ¶¶ 73-87)

_________________________

1    Application by Qwest Communications International, Inc. for 
Authorization to Provide In-Region, InterLATA Services in 
Minnesota, Memorandum Opinion and Order, FCC 03-142 (rel. June 26, 
2003) (``Qwest Order'').
2    The Bureau may monitor other subjects or performance 
indicators not expressly noted by the Commission in the Qwest 
Order or this letter.