IV. Reduction of Public Review and Comment

The Public Utilities Code and our Rules of Practice and Procedure generally require that draft decisions be circulated to the public for review and comment 30 days prior to the Commission's vote.

However, Rule 77.7(f)(5) provides that we may reduce or waive the period for public review and comment "for a decision under the state arbitration provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996." In this case, we reduced the comment period. Comments were to be filed on or before July 14, 2006. Comments were filed on July 14, 2006. Comments and reply comments were filed and served by Verizon and the CLECs. The comments have been taken into account, as appropriate, in finalizing this decision.