IV. Technical Qualifications

Applicants for CLC authority are required to make a reasonable showing of technical expertise in telecommunications or a related business. Applicant is a sister corporation of O1 Communications, Inc. (O1), a certificated CLC that has been providing telecommunications services in the State of California since 1999, and has submitted biographical information on its officers that demonstrates that it possesses sufficient experience and knowledge to operate as a competitive local carrier. Following the filing of this application, CTC filed a response questioning whether the Applicant was providing telecommunications services without a CPCN. This response was based on newspaper advertising placed by the Applicant and observed by CTC in the Sacramento area. In its answer to the CTC response, the Applicant stated its relationship to OI Communications, Inc., a licensed telephone services provider, as one of sales agency and stated further that the advertisements referred to by CTC contained language specifying that the Applicant was acting as a sales agent for its sister corporation O1. We find that any confusion in the public mind that may have arisen as a result of this arrangement is mitigated by the fact that members of the public are dealing with a licensed entity when they respond to the ads placed by the sales agent, and further mitigated by the fact that the companies are under common control.