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                         Before the
              FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                   Washington, D.C.  20554


In the Matter of                )
                                )
Judith Judware,                 )
                                )
     Complainant,               )
                                )
          v.                    )  File No. IC-02-I0013921
                                )
Verizon Communications, Inc.,   )
                                )
     Defendant.                    )


                            ORDER

     Adopted:  February 27, 2004             Released:  
February 27, 2004

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


1.   On November 18, 2002, Judith Judware (``Judware'') 
   filed an informal complaint against Verizon 
   Communications, Inc. (``Verizon'') pursuant to section 
   208 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 
   U.S.C. § 208, and sections 1.716 - 1.718 of the 
   Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.716 - 1.718.  On March 
   24, 2003, Verizon submitted its response to the informal 
   complaint.  Pursuant to section 1.718 of the Commission's 
   rules,1 the Complainant is required to convert its 
   informal complaint into a formal complaint within six 
   months of the date that the Defendant replies to the 
   informal complaint, or such informal complaint will be 
   deemed to be abandoned.  In this case, Judware was 
   required to convert the informal complaint into a formal 
   complaint by September 24, 2003.  This date was later 
   extended to March 1, 2004.2

2.   On February 19, 2004, Judware and Verizon filed a joint 
   request seeking an additional extension of the period for 
   converting Judware's informal complaint into a formal 
   complaint pursuant to 47 C.F.R. § 1.718.  Specifically, 
   the parties state they are currently exploring settlement 
   negotiations, and that an extension of the deadline to 
   convert the informal complaint will enable them to 
   continue those discussions.  As a result, the parties 
   request that the Commission extend the deadline to May 1, 
   2004.  Furthermore, the parties offer to provide the 
   Commission with a joint report covering the status of 
   these discussions on or before March 19, 2004, and a 
   second such report on or before April 16.

3.   We are satisfied that granting the waiver request 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.

4.   Accordingly, we hereby GRANT the parties' joint request 
   for a further extension of the period for converting 
   informal complaints under 47 C.F.R. § 1.718, and extend 
   the deadline for Judware to convert her informal 
   complaint to a formal complaint to May 1, 2004.  
   Furthermore, the parties shall submit a joint status 
   report covering the status of their discussions on or 
   before March 19, 2004, and a second report on or before 
   April 16, 2004.  This report shall be addressed to:

          Suzanne Perrin
          Room CY-B526
          Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
          Federal Communication Commission
          445 12th Street, S.W.
          Washington, D.C.  20554
   
5.   This order is issued  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.


                              FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 
COMMISSION                                                  


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

1         47 C.F.R. § 1.718.
2         See Judware v. Verizon, Order, DA 03-4110, 2003 WL 
23095472 (F.C.C.) (December 31, 2003); Letter from Warren 
Firschein, Attorney, Market Disputes Resolution Division, 
Enforcement Bureau, FCC, to Christopher Karns, Attorney for 
Judware, and Marie Breslin, Attoney for Verizon, File No. 
IC-02-I0013921 (November 21, 2003); Letter from Warren 
Firschein, Attorney, Market Disputes Resolution Division, 
Enforcement Bureau, FCC, to Christopher Karns, Attorney for 
Judware, and Marie Breslin, Attoney for Verizon, File No. 
IC-02-I0013921 (September 29, 2003).