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                                   Before the

                       Federal Communications Commission

                             Washington, D.C. 20554


                                               )                            
                                                                            
                                               )   File No.: EB-08-SE-546   
     In the Matter of                                                       
                                               )   Acct. No.: 201232100022  
     Cellco Partnership dba Verizon Wireless                                
                                               )   FRN: 0018506568          
                                                                            
                                               )                            


                                     ORDER

   Adopted: March 13, 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 Cellco Partnership dba Verizon Wireless (Verizon
       Wireless). The Consent Decree resolves and terminates the Bureau's
       investigation into Verizon Wireless'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 Wireless have negotiated a Consent Decree that
       resolves this matter. 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 investigation.

    4. In the absence of material new evidence relating to this matter, we
       conclude that our investigation raises no substantial or material
       questions of fact as to whether Verizon Wireless 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 Section 4(i) 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 investigation IS
       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 Mr. John T. Scott, III, Vice President and Deputy
       General Counsel, Verizon, Legal & External Affairs Department, 1300 I
       Street NW Suite 400-W, Washington, DC 20005 and to counsel for Verizon
       Wireless, David H. Solomon, Esq., Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP, 2300 N
       Street, NW Suite 700, Washington, DC  20037.

   FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

   P. Michele Ellison Chief, Enforcement Bureau

                                   Before the

                       Federal Communications Commission

                             Washington, D.C. 20554


                                                )                            
                                                                             
                                                )                            
                                                    File No.: EB-08-SE-546   
     In the Matter of                           )                            
                                                    Acct. No.: 201232100022  
     Cellco Partnership, dba Verizon Wireless   )                            
                                                    FRN: 0018506568          
                                                )                            
                                                                             
                                                )                            


                                 CONSENT DECREE

   The Enforcement Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission and Cellco
   Partnership, dba Verizon Wireless, by their respective authorized
   representatives, hereby enter into this Consent Decree for the purpose of
   terminating the Enforcement Bureau's investigation into whether Cellco
   Partnership, dba Verizon Wireless violated Section 4.9(e) of the
   Commission's rules 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 Wireless 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 8.

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

   (h) "Investigation" means the investigation covered by the Bureau's
   letters of inquiry dated June 24, 2008, September 24, 2008, December 29,
   2008, April 22, 2009, July 16, 2009, and October 20, 2009, regarding
   whether Verizon Wireless violated Section 4.9(e) of the Rules regarding
   the reporting of network outages.

   (i) "Parties" means Verizon Wireless 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 Wireless" or "Company" means Cellco Partnership, dba Verizon
       Wireless and its subsidiaries offering commercial mobile radio
       service.

   II. BACKGROUND

   2. Pursuant to Section 4.9(e) of the Rules, a wireless communications
   provider is required to submit to the Commission an electronic
   Notification within 120 minutes after discovering that it has experienced,
   on any facilities that it owns, operates, leases or otherwise utilizes, 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 Section 4.5(b) of the Rules; or (4)
   potentially affects a 911 special facility, as defined by Section 4.5(e)
   Rules. Within 72 hours after discovering such an outage, a wireless
   communications provider is required to submit electronically an Initial
   Communications Outage Report, and within 30 days after discovering such an
   outage, a wireless communications provider is required to submit
   electronically a Final Communications Outage Report. 

    3. On June 24, 2008, the Bureau issued a letter of inquiry to Verizon
       Wireless. The June 24, 2008 LOI directed Verizon Wireless to submit a
       sworn written response to a series of questions relating to Verizon
       Wireless's compliance with the Commission's network outage reporting
       rules. Verizon Wireless responded to the LOI on July 24, 2008. The
       Bureau issued a number of follow-up letters of inquiry to Verizon
       Wireless, the latest of which was issued October 20, 2009. Verizon
       Wireless responded to each of the Follow-up LOIs, most recently on
       November 16, 2009. The Bureau and Verizon Wireless executed tolling
       agreements to toll the statute of limitations.

   III. TERMS OF AGREEMENT

    4. 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.

    5. Jurisdiction. Verizon Wireless 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.

    6. Effective Date; Violations.  The Parties agree that this Consent
       Decree shall become effective on the Effective Date as defined herein.
       Upon release and provided that the Consent Decree is not rendered
       invalid by the Commission, 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.

    7. 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
       Investigation. In consideration for the termination of the
       Investigation, Verizon Wireless 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 the Investigation 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 Wireless concerning the matters that were the
       subject of the Investigation. The Bureau also agrees that in the
       absence of new material evidence it will not use the facts developed
       in the Investigation 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 Wireless with respect to Verizon Wireless's basic
       qualifications, including its character qualifications, to be a
       Commission licensee or authorized common carrier or hold Commission
       authorizations.

    8. Compliance Plan.  For purposes of settling the matters set forth
       herein, Verizon Wireless agrees to implement within thirty (30)
       calendar days after the Effective Date a Compliance Plan relating to
       Verizon Wireless'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 Wireless 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
       Wireless's Compliance Plan.

    b. Compliance Training Program.  Verizon Wireless 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 Wireless who are responsible for
       analyzing technical information regarding Verizon Wireless's network
       outages, entering such information into any Verizon Wireless
       database(s) and/or record(s) that form the basis of Verizon Wireless's
       reporting of network outages to the Commission, and compiling and/or
       submitting Verizon Wireless's outage reports to the Commission (each
       employee or agent of Verizon Wireless who performs any of the
       foregoing duties shall be referred to herein as a "Covered Employee").

     i. Verizon Wireless'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: (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 Wireless to identify and
        report those network outages that satisfy the FCC's reporting
        criteria ("Operating Procedures"). Verizon Wireless shall ensure such
        Operating Procedures are in effect before beginning to administer the
        training required by this paragraph, and these Operating Procedures
        must ensure that network operations center ("NOC") personnel are
        available or accessible at all times to receive, review, and promptly
        act upon, if necessary, communications to the NOC containing
        information or analyses relevant to a determination of whether a
        particular outage is reportable.

     ii. Verizon Wireless shall prepare and provide to all Covered Employees
         a Verizon Wireless 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
         Wireless 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
          Wireless 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 Wireless 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.

    c. Outage Reporting.  Beginning sixty (60) calendar days after the
       Effective Date and thereafter, Verizon Wireless shall include in any
       NORS report filed with the Commission the date and time that Verizon
       Wireless 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)).

    d. Compliance Reports. Verizon Wireless 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 Wireless,
        stating that the Compliance Officer has personal knowledge that
        Verizon Wireless (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 Wireless, shall provide the Commission with a detailed
          explanation of (A) each instance of non-compliance; (B) the steps
          that Verizon Wireless 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 Wireless 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 JoAnn Lucanik at
         JoAnn.Lucanik@fcc.gov, and Linda Nagel at Linda.Nagel@fcc.gov.

    e. Progress Assessment. Beginning on the Effective Date, Verizon Wireless
       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 Wireless's adherence to the Compliance Plan and its
       performance under the Part 4 Rules. Verizon Wireless agrees to provide
       the Bureau with information the Bureau requests concerning these
       topics.

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

    9. 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 Wireless 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 Wireless with the Act, the Rules,
       or Commission Orders.

   10. Voluntary Contribution. Verizon Wireless agrees that it will make a
       voluntary contribution to the United States Treasury in the amount of
       one hundred and ten thousand dollars ($110,000). The contribution will
       be made within thirty (30) 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
       021030004, 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 Wireless will also
       send electronic notification on the date said payment is made to
       JoAnn.Lucanik@fcc.gov, Linda.Nagel@fcc.gov, and Sam.Peoples@fcc.gov.

   11. Waivers.  Verizon Wireless 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 Wireless 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 Wireless nor the Commission shall
       contest the validity of the Consent Decree or the Adopting Order, and
       Verizon Wireless shall waive any statutory right to a trial de novo.
       Verizon Wireless hereby agrees to waive any claims it may 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.

   12. 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.

   13. 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 Wireless does not
       expressly consent), that provision will be superseded by such
       Commission Rule or order.

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

   15. 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.

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

   17. 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.

   18. 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.

   19. 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

   ____________________________

   John T. Scott, III

   Vice President and Deputy General Counsel

   Verizon

   ____________________________

   Date

   47 U.S.C. S: 154(i).

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

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

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

   47 C.F.R. S: 4.5(b).

   47 C.F.R. S: 4.5(e).

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

   See Letter from Kathryn S. Berthot, Chief, Spectrum Enforcement Division,
   Enforcement Bureau, to John T. Scott, III, Vice President and Deputy
   General Counsel - Regulatory Law, Verizon Wireless (June 24, 2008)
   ("LOI").

   See Letter from John T. Scott, III, Vice President and Deputy General
   Counsel - Regulatory Law, Verizon Wireless, to Kathryn S. Berthot, Chief,
   Spectrum, Enforcement Bureau, Federal Communications Commission (July 24,
   2008).

   See Letters from Kathryn S. Berthot, Chief, Spectrum Enforcement Division,
   Enforcement Bureau, to John T. Scott, III, Vice President and Deputy
   General Counsel - Regulatory Law, Verizon Wireless (September 24, 2008,
   December 28, 2008, April 22, 2009, July 16, 2009, and October 20, 2009)
   ("Follow-up LOIs").

   See Letters from John T. Scott, III, Vice President and Deputy General
   Counsel - Regulatory Law, Verizon Wireless, to Kathryn S. Berthot, Chief,
   Spectrum, Enforcement Bureau, Federal Communications Commission (October
   14, 2008, January 12, 2009, May 15, 2009, August 17, 2009, and November
   16, 2009).

   See, e.g., Tolling Agreement Extension, File No. EB-08-SE-546, executed by
   and between John D. Poutasse, Acting Chief, Spectrum Enforcement Division,
   Enforcement Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, and David H.
   Solomon, Counsel for Verizon Wireless (Feb. 8, 2012).

   1

   Federal Communications Commission DA 12-392

   1

   2

   Federal Communications Commission DA 12-392