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                                   Before the

                       Federal Communications Commission

                             Washington, D.C. 20554


                        )                                          
                                                                   
                        )   File Nos.: EB-09-SE-218; EB-11-SE-010  
     In the Matter of                                              
                        )   Acct. No.: 201032100034                
     Verizon                                                       
                        )   FRN: 0010790335                        
                                                                   
                        )                                          


                                     ORDER

   Adopted: March 14, 2012 Released: March 14, 2012

   By the Chief, Enforcement Bureau:

    1. In this Order, we adopt the attached Consent Decree entered into
       between the Enforcement Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communications
       Commission and Verizon. The Consent Decree resolves and terminates the
       Bureau's investigations into Verizon's compliance with the
       Commission's regulations in 47 C.F.R. Part 4 regarding the reporting
       of network outages.

    2. The Bureau and Verizon have negotiated a Consent Decree that resolves
       the matters in the above-captioned investigations. A copy of the
       Consent Decree is attached hereto and incorporated herein by
       reference.

    3. After reviewing the terms of the Consent Decree and evaluating the
       facts before us, we find that the public interest would be served by
       adopting the Consent Decree and terminating the investigations.

    4. In the absence of material new evidence relating to these matters, we
       conclude that our investigations raise no substantial or material
       questions of fact as to whether Verizon possesses the basic
       qualifications, including those related to character, to hold or
       obtain any Commission license or authorization.

    5. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to Sections 4(i) and 503(b)
       of the Act, and Sections 0.111 and 0.311 of the Rules, the Consent
       Decree attached to this Order IS ADOPTED.

    6. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the above-captioned investigations ARE
       TERMINATED.

    7. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a copy of this Order and Consent Decree
       shall be sent by first class mail and certified mail, return receipt
       requested, to Tamara Preiss, Vice President, Federal Regulatory
       Affairs, Verizon, 1300 I Street, N.W., Suite 400 West, Washington,
       D.C. 20005.

   FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

   P. Michele Ellison Chief, Enforcement Bureau

                                   Before the

                       Federal Communications Commission

                             Washington, D.C. 20554


                        )                                          
                                                                   
                        )                                          
                            File Nos.: EB-09-SE-218; EB-11-SE-010  
     In the Matter of   )                                          
                            NAL/Acct No.: 201032100034             
     Verizon            )                                          
                            FRN: 0010790335                        
                        )                                          
                                                                   
                        )                                          


                                 CONSENT DECREE

   The Enforcement Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission and
   Verizon, by their respective authorized representatives, hereby enter into
   this Consent Decree for the purpose of terminating the Enforcement
   Bureau's investigations into Verizon's compliance with the Commission's
   regulations in 47 C.F.R. Part 4 regarding the reporting of network
   outages.

   I. DEFINITIONS

   1. For the purposes of this Consent Decree, the following definitions
   shall apply:

    a. "Act" means the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. S:
       151 et seq.

    b. "Adopting Order" means an order of the Bureau adopting the terms of
       this Consent Decree without change, addition, deletion, or
       modification.

    c. "Bureau" means the Enforcement Bureau of the Federal Communications
       Commission.

    d. "Communications Laws" means, collectively, the Act, the Rules, and the
       published and promulgated orders and decisions of the Commission to
       which Verizon is subject by virtue of its business activities,
       including but not limited to, the outage reporting requirements under
       Section 4.9 of the Commission's rules

    e. "Commission" and "FCC" mean the Federal Communications Commission and
       all of its bureaus and offices.

    f. "Compliance Plan" means the compliance obligations and compliance
       program described in this Consent Decree at Paragraph 9.

    g. "Effective Date" means the date on which the Bureau releases the
       Adopting Order.

    h. "Investigations" means (1) the investigation under File Number
       EB-09-SE-218, commenced by the Bureau's January 4, 2010 letter of
       inquiry regarding Verizon's compliance with Section 4.11 of the Rules,
       47 C.F.R. S: 4.11; and (2) the investigation under File Number
       EB-11-SE-010, commenced by the Bureau's March 29, 2011 letter of
       inquiry regarding Verizon's compliance with Section 4.9(f) of the
       Rules, 47 C.F.R. S: 4.9(f).

    i. "Parties" means Verizon and the Bureau, and each is a "Party."

    j. "Rules" means the Commission's regulations found in Title 47 of the
       Code of Federal Regulations.

    k. "Verizon" or "Company" means the regulated, wholly owned subsidiaries
       of Verizon Communications Inc. and their successors and assigns.

   II. BACKGROUND

   2. Pursuant to Section 4.9(f) of the Rules, a wireline communications
   provider is required to submit to the Commission an electronic
   Notification within 120 minutes after discovering that it has experienced
   a network outage of at least 30 minutes duration that: (1) potentially
   affects at least 900,000 user minutes of either telephony or paging; (2)
   affects at least 1,350 DS3 minutes; (3) potentially affects any special
   offices or facilities (as defined in paragraph (b) of Section 4.5 of the
   Rules); or (4) potentially affects a 911 special facility (as defined by
   paragraph (e) of Section 4.5 of the Rules). Within 72 hours after
   discovering such an outage, a wireline communications provider is required
   to submit electronically an Initial Communications Outage Report, and
   within 30 days after discovering such an outage, a wireline communications
   provider is required to submit electronically a Final Communications
   Report. Section 4.9(f) of the Rules also requires that the Notification
   and the Initial and Final reports shall comply with all of the
   requirements of Section 4.11 of the Rules, which include a requirement
   that the communications provider submit and attest that it has submitted,
   a true, complete and accurate Final Report that contains all pertinent
   information, including any information that was not contained in its
   Initial Report.

   3. On July 6, 2009, Verizon experienced a reportable network outage. On
   July 31, 2009, Verizon submitted a timely Final Report concerning that
   outage. On January 4, 2010, the Bureau issued a letter of inquiry (LOI) to
   Verizon initiating an investigation regarding Verizon's compliance with
   the Part 4 of the Rules. Verizon submitted a response to the LOI on
   February 3, 2010. On July 9, 2010, the Bureau issued a notice of apparent
   liability proposing a monetary forfeiture of $25,000.

   4. On March 29, 2011, the Bureau issued an LOI to Verizon, initiating a
   further investigation into Verizon's compliance with the network outage
   reporting requirements under Part 4 of the Rules. Verizon submitted a
   complete response to the LOI on May 26, 2011. The Bureau and Verizon
   executed tolling agreements to toll the statute of limitations.

   III. TERMS OF AGREEMENT

   5. Adopting Order. The Parties agree that the provisions of this Consent
   Decree shall be subject to final approval by the Bureau by incorporation
   of such provisions by reference in the Adopting Order without change,
   addition, modification, or deletion.

   6. Jurisdiction. Verizon agrees that the Bureau has jurisdiction over it
   and the matters contained in this Consent Decree and has the authority to
   enter into and adopt this Consent Decree.

   7. Effective Date; Violations. The Parties agree that this Consent Decree
   shall become effective on the Effective Date. Upon release, the Adopting
   Order and this Consent Decree shall have the same force and effect as any
   other order of the Bureau. Any violation of the Adopting Order or of the
   terms of this Consent Decree shall constitute a separate violation of a
   Bureau order, entitling the Bureau to exercise any rights and remedies
   attendant to the enforcement of a Commission order.

   8. Termination of Investigation. In express reliance on the covenants and
   representations in this Consent Decree and to avoid further expenditure of
   public resources, the Bureau agrees to terminate the Investigations. In
   consideration for the termination of said Investigations, Verizon agrees
   to the terms, conditions, and procedures contained herein. The Bureau
   further agrees that in the absence of new material evidence, the Bureau
   will not use the facts developed in these Investigations through the
   Effective Date, or the existence of this Consent Decree, to institute on
   its own motion any new proceeding, formal or informal, or take any action
   on its own motion against Verizon concerning the matters that were the
   subject of these Investigations. The Bureau also agrees that in the
   absence of new material evidence it will not use the facts developed in
   these Investigations through the Effective Date, or the existence of this
   Consent Decree, to institute on its own motion any proceeding, formal or
   informal, or take any action on its own motion against Verizon with
   respect to Verizon's basic qualifications, including its character
   qualifications, to be a Commission licensee or authorized common carrier
   to hold Commission authorizations.

   9.  Compliance Plan. For purposes of settling the matters set forth
   herein, Verizon agrees to implement within thirty (30) calendar days after
   the Effective Date a Compliance Plan relating to Verizon's future
   compliance with those portions of the Act, the Commission's Rules, and the
   Commission's Orders related to the Commission's network outage reporting
   requirements; represents that it has one or more management employees in
   each of its business units who has responsibility for compliance with each
   of the Communications Laws that are relevant to its operations, that there
   are at least 20 such management employees, and that, collectively, these
   management employees exercise responsibility for the Company's compliance
   with all of the Communications Laws that are relevant to the operations of
   the Company. The Company agrees that it will either maintain this
   compliance structure, or, if it makes changes, shall ensure that it
   maintains equivalent management oversight over compliance with all
   Communications Laws that are applicable to the operations of the Company.
   The Compliance Plan will include, at a minimum, the following components:

    a. Compliance Officer.  Within thirty (30) calendar days of the Effective
       Date, Verizon shall designate a senior corporate manager to serve as
       the Compliance Officer for FCC network outage reporting, who will be
       responsible for implementing and administering Verizon's Compliance
       Plan.

    b. Compliance Processes. Within sixty (60) days of the Effective Date:

     a. Verizon shall modify its existing processes for gathering, analyzing,
        and reporting information about its network outages in order to
        ensure that such processes collect information known to Verizon about
        all public safety answering points ("PSAPs") affected by such
        outages, and Verizon shall include such information about the
        affected PSAPs in the Final Report it submits to the Commission
        pursuant to Part 4 of the Rules. In particular, the process will
        facilitate the accurate identification and inclusion in the Final
        Report of all reportable events that stem from a common cause.

     b. For each of its PSAP customers, Verizon shall adjust the selective
        router trunk group "automatic busy percentage" setting to allow only
        a single trunk in a group to be removed from service automatically
        due to double wink failures. A "double wink failure" occurs when the
        selective router twice receives no signal or wink from the PSAP PBX
        to signify a particular trunk's ability to complete the call.

     c. Verizon shall review its existing processes for gathering, analyzing,
        and reporting information about its network outages, and shall make
        any changes necessary for Verizon to detect and report events in
        which there is a loss of 911 call processing capabilities in one or
        more E-911 tandems/selective routers for at least 30 minutes
        duration.

    c. Compliance Training Program.  Verizon shall establish and maintain an
       FCC outage reporting training program addressing FCC network outage
       reporting requirements, as detailed below, for all employees and
       agents of Verizon who are responsible for analyzing technical
       information regarding Verizon's network outages, entering such
       information into any Verizon database(s) and/or record(s) that form
       the basis of Verizon's reporting of network outages to the Commission,
       and compiling and/or submitting Verizon's outage reports to the
       Commission (each employee or agent of Verizon who performs any of the
       foregoing duties shall be referred to herein as a "Covered Employee").

   i. Verizon's network outage training program shall address, at a minimum,
      the following subjects in order to facilitate compliance with the FCC's
      network outage reporting Rules and this Consent Decree: (A) the Rules
      governing the reporting of network outages; (B) the information and
      calculations required by the Rules or otherwise necessary to determine
      whether an outage is reportable under the Rules; (C) the time periods
      within which notifications and reports of reportable outages must be
      submitted to the FCC; and (D) the standard internal operating
      procedures adopted by Verizon to identify and report those network
      outages that satisfy the FCC's reporting criteria and this Consent
      Decree ("Operating Procedures"). Verizon shall ensure that such
      Operating Procedures are in effect before beginning to administer the
      training required by this paragraph.

   ii. Verizon shall prepare and provide to all Covered Employees a Verizon
       network outage internal on-line training course that summarizes each
       of the subjects addressed above. After completion of the training,
       Covered Employees will have the ability to access the network outage
       internal online training course on demand for reference purposes.
       Covered Employees also shall be advised of the regulatory consequences
       in the event that Verizon fails to comply with the FCC's outage
       reporting requirements.

   iii. Covered Employees as of the Effective Date shall complete the network
        outage training program within sixty (60) calendar days of the
        Effective Date. New or re-assigned employees of Verizon who become
        Covered Employees thirty (30) days or more after the Effective Date
        shall complete the Compliance Training Program within thirty (30)
        calendar days of the date of their employment or re-assignment.

   iv. Verizon shall repeat such training annually, and shall take such steps
       as are reasonable, necessary and appropriate to update and enhance the
       network outage internal on-line training course to ensure that it is
       accurate and complete.

    d. Outage Reporting. Beginning sixty (60) calendar days after the
       Effective Date and thereafter, Verizon shall include in any NORS
       report filed with the Commission the date and time that Verizon
       discovered the outage was reportable using the following two separate
       fields: (1) Date Outage Determined Reportable and (2) Local Time
       Outage Determined Reportable (24 hr clock (nnnn)).

    e. Compliance Reports. Verizon shall file Compliance Reports with the
       Bureau six (6) months after the Effective Date, twelve (12) months
       after the Effective Date and twenty-four (24) months after the
       Effective Date. 

   i. Each Compliance Report shall include a certification by the Compliance
      Officer, as an agent of and on behalf of Verizon, stating that the
      Compliance Officer has personal knowledge that Verizon (A) has
      established and implemented the Compliance Plan; (B) has utilized the
      Operating Procedures since the implementation of the Compliance Plan;
      and (C) is not aware of any instances of non-compliance with the terms
      and conditions of this Consent Decree.

   ii. The certification shall be accompanied by a statement explaining the
       basis for the Compliance Officer's certification and must comply with
       section 1.16 of the Rules and be subscribed to as true under penalty
       of perjury in substantially the form set forth therein.

   iii. If the Compliance Officer cannot provide the requisite certification,
        the Compliance Officer, as an agent of and on behalf of Verizon,
        shall provide the Commission with a detailed explanation of (A) each
        instance of non-compliance; (B) the steps that Verizon has taken or
        will take to remedy such non-compliance, including the schedule on
        which proposed remedial actions will be taken; and (C) the steps that
        Verizon has taken or will take to prevent the recurrence of any such
        non-compliance, including the schedule on which such preventive
        action will be taken.

   iv. All Compliance Reports shall be submitted to the Chief, Spectrum
       Enforcement Division, Enforcement Bureau, Federal Communications
       Commission, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554, with a copy
       submitted electronically to Kathy Harvey at Kathy.Harvey@fcc.gov and
       to JoAnn Lucanik at JoAnn.Lucanik@fcc.gov.

    f. Progress Assessment. Beginning on the Effective Date, Verizon shall,
       at the request of the Bureau, meet with the Bureau once each 60-day
       period during the term of the Compliance Plan to discuss Verizon's
       adherence to the Compliance Plan and its performance under the Part 4
       Rules. Verizon agrees to provide the Bureau with information the
       Bureau requests concerning these topics.

    g. Termination. The provisions of this paragraph shall remain in effect
       for two (2) years from the Effective Date.

   10. Section 208 Complaints; Subsequent Investigations.  Nothing in this
   Consent Decree shall prevent the Commission or its delegated authority
   from adjudicating complaints filed pursuant to Section 208 of the Act
   against Verizon or its affiliates for alleged violations of the Act, or
   for any other type of alleged misconduct, regardless of when such
   misconduct took place. The Commission's adjudication of any such complaint
   will be based solely on the record developed in that proceeding. Except as
   expressly provided in this Consent Decree, this Consent Decree shall not
   prevent the Commission from investigating new evidence of noncompliance by
   Verizon with the Act, the Rules, or Commission Orders.

   11. Voluntary Contribution. Verizon agrees that it will make a voluntary
   contribution to the United States Treasury in the amount of ninety
   thousand dollars ($90,000). The payment shall be made within thirty (30)
   calendar days after the Effective Date. The payment must be made by check
   or similar instrument, payable to the order of the Federal Communications
   Commission. The payment must include the Account Number and FRN Number
   referenced in the caption to the Adopting Order. Payment by check or money
   order may be mailed to Federal Communications Commission, P.O. Box 979088,
   St. Louis, MO 63197-9000. Payment by overnight mail may be sent to U.S.
   Bank - Government Lockbox #979088, SL-MO-C2-GL, 1005 Convention Plaza, St.
   Louis, MO 63101. Payment by wire transfer may be made to ABA Number
   02130004, receiving bank TREAS/NYC, and account number 27000001. For
   payment by credit card, an FCC Form 159 (Remittance Advice) must be
   submitted. When completing the FCC Form 159, enter the Account number in
   block number 23A (call sign/other ID), and enter the letters "FORF" in
   block number 24A (payment type code). Verizon will also send electronic
   notification on the date said payment is made to JoAnn.Lucanik@fcc.gov,
   Kathy.Harvey@fcc.gov, and Sam.Peoples@fcc.gov.

   12. Waivers. Verizon waives any and all rights it may have to seek
   administrative or judicial reconsideration, review, appeal, or stay, or to
   otherwise challenge or contest the validity of this Consent Decree and the
   Adopting Order, provided the Bureau issues an Adopting Order adopting the
   Consent Decree without change, addition, modification or deletion. Verizon
   shall retain the right to challenge Commission interpretation of the
   Consent Decree or any terms contained herein. If either Party (or the
   United States on behalf of the Commission) brings a judicial action to
   enforce the terms of the Adopting Order, neither Verizon nor the
   Commission shall contest the validity of the Consent Decree or the
   Adopting Order, and Verizon shall waive any statutory right to a trial de
   novo. Verizon hereby agrees to waive any claims it may otherwise have
   under the Equal Access to Justice Act, 5 U.S.C. S: 504 and 47 C.F.R. S:
   1.1501 et seq., relating to the matters addressed in this Consent Decree.

   13. Invalidity. In the event that this Consent Decree in its entirety is
   rendered invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, it shall become
   null and void and may not be used in any manner in any legal proceeding.

   14. Subsequent Rule or Order. The Parties agree that if any provision of
   the Consent Decree conflicts with any subsequent Rule or order adopted by
   the Commission (except an order specifically intended to revise the terms
   of this Consent Decree to which Verizon does not expressly consent) that
   provision will be superseded by such Commission Rule or order.

   15. Successors and Assigns. Verizon agrees that the provisions of this
   Consent Decree shall be binding on its successors, assigns, and
   transferees.

   16. Final Settlement. The Parties agree and acknowledge that this Consent
   Decree shall constitute a final settlement between the Parties. The
   Parties further agree that this Consent Decree does not constitute either
   an adjudication on the merits or a factual or legal finding or
   determination regarding any compliance or noncompliance with the
   Communications Laws.

   17. Modifications. This Consent Decree cannot be modified without the
   advance written consent of both Parties.

   18. Paragraph Headings. The headings of the paragraphs in this Consent
   Decree are inserted for convenience only and are not intended to affect
   the meaning or interpretation of this Consent Decree.

   19. Authorized Representative. Each Party represents and warrants to the
   other that it has full power and authority to enter into this Consent
   Decree. Each person signing this Consent Decree on behalf of a Party
   hereby represents that he or she is fully authorized by the Party to
   execute this Consent Decree and to bind the Party to its terms and
   conditions.

   20. Counterparts. This Consent Decree may be signed in any number of
   counterparts (including by facsimile), each of which, when executed and
   delivered, shall be an original, and all of which counterparts together
   shall constitute one and the same fully executed instrument.

   _____________________________________

   P. Michele Ellison

   Chief

   Enforcement Bureau

   _____________________________________

   Date

   _____________________________________

   Nicola Palmer

   Senior Vice President - Global Network Operations & Engineering

   _____________________________________

   Date

   "Verizon" means the regulated, wholly owned subsidiaries of Verizon
   Communications Inc. and their successors and assigns.

   47 U.S.C. S:S: 154(i), 503(b).

   47 C.F.R. S:S: 0.111, 0.311.

   "Verizon" means the regulated, wholly owned subsidiaries of Verizon
   Communications Inc. and their successors and assigns.

   See Letter from Kathryn S. Berthot, Chief, Spectrum Enforcement Division,
   Enforcement Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, to Kathleen Grillo,
   Vice President, Federal Regulatory, Verizon (Jan. 4, 2010).

   See Letter from Ricardo M. Durham, Acting Chief, Spectrum Enforcement
   Division, Enforcement Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, to
   Kathleen Grillo, Senior Vice President, Federal Regulatory Affairs,
   Verizon (March 29, 2011).

   47 C.F.R. S: 4.9(f).

   Id.

   47 C.F.R. S:4.11.

   See supra note 2.

   See Letter from Mark J. Montano, Assistant General Counsel, Verizon to
   Kathryn S. Berthot, Chief, Spectrum Enforcement Division, Enforcement
   Bureau (Feb. 3, 2010).

   Verizon, Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, 25 FCC Rcd 9034
   (Enf. Bur. 2010).

   See supra note 3.

   See Letters from Mark J. Montano, Assistant General Counsel, Verizon, to
   Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, (April
   28, 2011 and May 26, 2011).

   See, e.g., Tolling Agreement Extension, File No. EB-11-SE-010, executed by
   and between John D. Poutasse, Acting Chief, Spectrum Enforcement Division,
   Enforcement Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, and Edward Shakin,
   Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Verizon (Aug. 17, 2011).

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   Federal Communications Commission DA 12-391

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   Federal Communications Commission DA 12-391