4. Specific Modification Requests

A. Should delisted UNEs be included in D.06-03-025, Appendix A?

According to Verizon, Appendix A of the decision includes items that Verizon is not required to provide as UNEs, and the decision should be modified to strike the inappropriate elements. Pursuant to Section 251(d) of the Communications Act, the FCC is vested with sole authority to identify the elements of an incumbent carrier's network that must be made available to competitors at cost-based, Total Element Long Run Incremental Cost (TELRIC) rates. The FCC most recently exercised this authority in the Triennial Review Remand Order,1 in which it explained:

Section 251(d)(2) authorizes the Commission [the FCC] to determine which elements are subject to unbundling, and directs the Commission to consider, "at a minimum," whether access to proprietary network elements is "necessary," and whether failure to provide a non-proprietary element on an unbundled basis would "impair" a requesting carrier's ability to provide service. Section 252, in turn, requires that those network elements that must be offered pursuant to section 252(c)(3) be made available at cost-based rates.

Verizon points out that the same authority to list UNEs encompasses the FCC's prerogative to delist them, that is, to determine that competitors are no longer impaired if they are not afforded access to a given UNE at TELRIC rates. In the TRRO, the FCC delisted several UNEs. While the Commission generally recognized the delisting effect of the TRRO in D.06-03-025, the Appendix includes several delisted UNEs. The Commission noted, "[T]here is no need to remove rate elements for UNEs Verizon no longer provides because the rate may be necessary for true-up purposes and the existence or absence of a price does not affect Verizon's obligations under federal law."2

Verizon concurs that the latter statement is true, namely that the presence of a price does not affect Verizon's obligations, but asserts the former is not; by not removing the relevant rate elements (or at a minimum, not segregating them as included solely for true-up purposes), the Commission has created confusion in the industry. Verizon urges the Commission to correct D.06-03-025 Appendix A to exclude UNEs that have been delisted by the FCC; moreover, it should clarify that Verizon is not to include delisted UNEs that appear in Appendix A as UNEs in its interconnection agreement (ICA) amendments. Additionally, Verizon asserts that the Commission should modify the decision to affirm that services such as entrance facilities, transport facilities and Signaling System 7 (SS7) links to which Verizon may be required to provide access pursuant to D.06-02-035, are not UNEs and should therefore not be listed in Verizon's ICA amendments filed pursuant to D.06-03-025. Verizon suggests that omitting the delisted UNEs from Appendix A will have no effect on true-up or retrospective applications of the prescribed rates but will properly clarify Verizon's obligations pursuant to the TRRO.

We do not agree with Verizon's conclusion that omitting the delisted UNEs from Appendix A will have no impact on the true-up or Verizon's obligations under its ICAs. We need to adopt rates for those elements that will be subject to true-up, and it is appropriate that those rates appear in Appendix A. However, we see the value in adding a footnote specifying that those UNEs have been delisted and have revised Appendix A accordingly. Since the delisted UNEs were not available after March 15, 2006, there is no need to include those rates in the ICA amendments. We agree with Verizon that it could cause confusion if the rates are listed in the amendments.

In addition, Verizon asks the Commission to affirm that services such as entrance facilities, transport facilities and SS7 links, which Verizon is required to provide for purposes of interconnection pursuant to D.06-02-035, are not UNEs and should be not be listed in Verizon's interconnection amendments filed pursuant to D.06-03-025. We concur with Verizon's assertion that the services listed above are not UNEs and should not be listed as UNEs in the ICA amendments filed pursuant to D.06-03-025.

However, we note that those services are available to competitors for purposes of interconnection pursuant to D.06-02-035, which was issued in a separate proceeding, A.04-03-014. The rates for those services, are the UNE rates adopted in this decision.

Section 252(d) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires that elements used for interconnection should be priced at cost-based rates, the same as UNEs. The rates to be charged for those services when used for purposes of interconnection with Verizon's network are as shown in Appendix A. Since theses delisted services are no longer UNES, Verizon is not required to include them under UNEs in their ICA amendments.

Verizon states that it is neither practicable for Verizon, nor appropriate for the Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs) it serves, to make changes to longstanding provisioning standards. Verizon asserts that it does not seek a revisitation of the rates directed; rather, those rates should be applied as converted within the wholesale provisioning standards already in effect for Verizon, rather than through wasteful, confusing and unnecessary conversions to different measurements and units than those currently utilized. Each affected element is discussed independently below:

Verizon proposes that certain rates be restructured to be applied on per minute of use (MOU) basis. Verizon finds these modifications to be especially reasonable given that tandem switching and interoffice switching are no longer UNEs. The proposed per-MOU rate structures for tandem switching and interoffice switching are consistent with rate structures previously adopted by this Commission, including the interim rates ordered in D.03-03-033 and D.05-01-057. Verizon points out that Verizon used the same per MOU-based tandem switch rate to calculate the true-up amounts that it owed CLECs and that CLECs owed it in its June 27, 2006 UNE True-Up and Rate Re-Examination Proposals. No party objected to the use of Verizon's per Minute of Use based tandem switch rate.

Verizon states that its methodology is easily explained. Verizon has assumed a 3.95 minute average call holding time to calculate a single per-MOU rate for each switching component.

Appendix A Divided by Average

Tandem Switching Hold Time

Set Up Per Message 0.000217 3.95 0.000055

Holding Time Per MOU 0.000309 +0.000309

Appendix B Divided by Average

Interoffice Switching Hold Time

(Orig/Term)

Set Up Per Message 0.001293 3.95 0.000327

Holding Time Per MOU 0.001184 + 0.001184

To summarize, Verizon proposes replacing the ordered structure with the following

Switch usage

Interoffice Switching per MOU $ 0.001511

According to Verizon, implementing this change will not have a material effect on rates, as it chiefly effects a simpler per-MOU structure. If Verizon is required to apply the ordered set-up per call and holding time per minute of use charges, necessary billing system modifications may take up to 12 months to complete and implement.

We find it significant that Verizon presented its switch data in the true-up phase of this proceeding in the form described here, and no party took exception to the structure or the rates Verizon employed. Also, it makes no sense to reinvent the wheel and require extensive modifications to Verizon's billing system when a simpler solution is before us. Verizon's proposed per minute of use rates for tandem switching and interoffice switching are adopted and will be included in the revised version of Appendices A and B which are appended to this order.

In a footnote, Verizon asserts that the Commission should strike the rates for reciprocal compensation and all references to reciprocal compensation found in the decision. According to Verizon, it is improper for the decision to prescribe a reciprocal compensation switching rate, derived from runs of HM 5.3, given the express exclusion of reciprocal compensation from the proceeding by the Assigned Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).

On November 3, 2003, Verizon filed its direct case-in-chief, which included reciprocal compensation rates. AT&T3 moved to strike reciprocal compensation as outside the scope of the proceeding, and at a February 3, 2004, Law and Motion hearing, ALJ Duda granted AT&T's motion on this point. Verizon states that there were no further references to reciprocal compensation until the first Draft Decision issued on November 22, 2005. Verizon claims that its only opportunity to comment on the issue was after the Draft Decision was issued, which violates due process concerns associated with a rate-setting proceeding.

Verizon has not chosen the correct forum to revisit this issue. If Verizon believed that the Commission committed legal error by adopting rates for reciprocal compensation, Verizon should have included that issue in its Application for Rehearing of D.06-03-025. Verizon did not do so. It is not appropriate that the issue be raised, in a footnote, in this Petition to Modify.

As a point of clarification, the ALJ rejected Verizon's request for a separate cost study for reciprocal compensation, and instead ordered that the adopted UNE rates be used for reciprocal compensation purposes. At the Law and Motion hearing Verizon referenced, ALJ Duda made it clear that adopted UNEs would be used to set reciprocal compensation rates:

...as I understand it, in all of the other OANAD [Open Access and Network Architecture Development] decisions we have never taken up reciprocal compensation prices; we've...set the UNEs prices and ...let [them] apply to reciprocal comp....4

In other words, Verizon had notice that the Commission intended to apply adopted UNE rates to reciprocal compensation, in lieu of entertaining Verizon's separate cost study. We note that D.06-03-025 also states that this was the same outcome that we ordered in the Pacific Bell Telephone Company (then doing business as SBC California (SBC)) UNE case. Verizon's request to strike the rates for reciprocal compensation is denied.

b. Multiplexing and Dark Fiber

Verizon states that the adopted rate structure for dark fiber and for multiplexing is impracticable, without significant, costly and time-and resource-consuming changes to Verizon's billing systems. Due to the small number of these types of UNEs sold, the costly billing system changes required to implement the ordered rates are not warranted.

Specifically, Verizon states that multiplexing should be per-multiplexer (MUX), rather than per-channel. Verizon describes multiplexing as the attachment of electronic equipment to increase the carrying capacity of the facility. Appendix A prescribes "per DS0" and "per DS1" rates for multiplexing and "per channel" rates for Digital Cross Connect System (DCS) multiplexing. This is inconsistent with both Verizon's existing rate structure and its existing practices, in which it provisions-and bills--UNE interoffice transmission facilities on a per-multiplexer basis. These rates are appropriate because when multiplexing is ordered by a CLEC, Verizon dedicates an entire multiplexer to the CLEC, and does not share the equipment among multiple carriers.

Verizon proposes that rather than implement an inordinately costly change to its billing system, in a manner inconsistent with its provisioning practices, that the order be modified to reflect that a carrier requesting multiplexing be charged for the entire multiplexing unit. That carrier would, of course, continue to be offered the entire capacity of the MUX without additional per-channel multiplexing charges. The proposed rates, converted to a per-MUX unit structure are:

Multiplexing:

DS1 to DS0 $3.14 per DS0 x 24 DS0 channels = $ 75.36 per MUX

DS3 to DS1 $5.58 per DS1 x 28 DS1 channels = $156.24 per MUX

Digital Cross Connect System (DCS) Multiplexing

DS1 to DS0 $3.14 per channel x 24 DS0 channels = $ 75.36 per MUX

DS3 to DS1 $5.58 per channel x 28 DS1 channels = $156.24 per MUX

We concur with Verizon that the rates for multiplexing will be changed to reflect the fact that a carrier requesting multiplexing will be charged for the entire multiplexing unit. This change reflects the way that the service is currently provisioned and billed.

Verizon states that the situation with dark fiber is much the same as with multiplexing. According to Verizon, converting from one billing system to another would be resource-intensive, expensive, one not worth its substantial cost in light of the small number of dark fiber dedicated interoffice transmission facilities currently provisioned in California.

Verizon urges the Commission to modify the decision to reflect an appropriate conversion methodology as follows:

ITF Dark Fiber per strand rate-Conversion to per pair, per mile rate

ITF Dark Fiber per foot rate-Conversion to per pair, per mile rate

In addition, Verizon asks that the Commission revise the reference to dark fiber "interoffice per strand" to read "interoffice IDT facility per pair, per mile," and similarly, "IOF to CO" should be revised to reflect "Interoffice IDT Termination per end."

Verizon makes a compelling argument for changing the way that dark fiber is leased, to reflect the fact that Verizon bills on a per pair, per mile basis. It makes no sense to require significant changes to Verizon's billing system, given the small number of dark fiber dedicated interoffice transmission facilities currently provisioned. Verizon's proposal to change the way that dark fiber is billed as described above, is adopted, and Appendix A will be changed accordingly.

Verizon states that by including the statewide average rates for certain loops in Appendix A, the Commission has created unnecessary confusion within the industry. This is because, although the statewide average is arithmetically correct, no party purchases an "average" priced loop; rather, the rates are broken into four geographic zones in accordance with federal law, and it is only those deaveraged rates that are actually available to competitors.

Because the statewide average rates are shown in Appendix A, it has caused some competitors to contend that Verizon is in violation of the decision because it has not included the "statewide average" loop rate as a valid price in the relevant portion of the compliance filings. Verizon suggests that the Commission remedy the problem by striking the Appendix A statewide average rates for UNEs that have been geographically deaveraged.

Verizon points out that the FCC requires that "State commissions shall establish different rates for elements in at least three defined geographic areas within the state to reflect geographic cost differences. 47 C.F.R. § 51.507(f). Verizon suggests that Appendix A be corrected to reflect the Commission's extensive discussion of its deaveraging methodology.

We concur with Verizon's position that the FCC requires state commissions to adopt geographically deaveraged rates, and we adopted geographically deaveraged loop rates in D.06-03-025. We also agree with Verizon that the statewide average rates shown in Appendix A for UNEs that have been geographically deaveraged are not available to competitors. Only the deaveraged rates are available to competitors. However, we decline to delete the statewide average rates from Appendix A. Those rates may be needed for true-up purposes so it is important that the adopted rates be part of our decision. However, since those statewide average rates are not available to CLECs, those statewide average rates do not need to be included in the ICA amendments.

According to Verizon, the Commission's identification of an "ISDN option" rate requires clarification for implementation. Appendix A to the decision identifies the following line item:

Loops

ISDN Statewide Average $16.48

According to Verizon, this listing, standing alone, and without further explanation, is ambiguous because like the loops on which it is provisioned, ISDN is not a service priced on a statewide average; rather, it is generally an enhanced function for a two-wire loop. This rate was portrayed in the SBC UNE order, D.05-05-031 as a rate in addition to the two-wire loop rate, and was presented by Verizon in its Advice Letter filings filed to implement this decision to be just that.

According to Verizon, the ISDN rate should not be added to the statewide average loop rate. Instead, Appendix A should be corrected to add the following ISDN loop rates (the sum of the two wire deaveraged loop rates + $2.54):

ISDN

Several CLECs, namely Covad, U.S. Telepacific Corp., MPower Communications Corp., Arrival Communications, Inc., and Utility Telephone, Inc. (Joint Commenters) rebut Verizon's proposal for pricing ISDN loops, saying that the "ISDN Option" is an optional nonrecurring charge applied only in the event that the ISDN is provided over a fiber-fed loop. Joint Commentors explained that typically 2-wire loops are capable of being used to provide ISDN BRI services. However, in some situations, loop conditioning is required, and a rate was established to recover the costs for conditioning.

In cases where the loop plant includes a fiber feeder, a special plug-in card must be installed in the Digital Loop Carrier (DLC) remote terminal in order to provide the ISDN BRI services.5 The monthly recurring cost for insertion of the special plug-in card in those limited situations is the "ISDN Option" ($2.54). The ISDN Option was established to enable Verizon to recover the incremental additional costs for the plug-in card when the ISDN capable loop is provisioned over a fiber-fed loop.

Verizon responds to the CLECs stating that their proposal misrepresents the manner in which the $2.54 charge was calculated. The charge is an average of the investment associated with two technologies, and this averaging lowers the total cost per item, but the CLECs' comments argue that the resulting lowered recurring rate should only be applied when the more costly technology is utilized.

Verizon asserts that this is a misuse of an averaging method. Verizon states that the CLECs argue the BRI charge (a recurring $2.54) should apply only to DLC-served BRI. According to Verizon, the HM 5.3 model uses the total ISDN line count (DLC and non-DLC) as the basis for its calculation, yielding a weighted average applicable to all ISDN BRI purchases, not merely those using a particular technology. According to Verizon, it properly applies the weighted average cost of each BRI facility on a technology- neutral basis.

We concur with Verizon's assertion that the $2.54 should be assessed on all ISDN loops, not just fiber-fed loops. Verizon has made a convincing argument that the HM 5.3 model uses the total count of ISDN lines to calculate the $2.54, so that amount should be assessed on all ISDN loops, not just fiber-fed loops. Also, we concur with Verizon that the $2.54 should be added to the deaveraged loop rates, as Verizon described above. Appendix A has been modified accordingly.

Finally, Verizon has a problem with three UNEs in Appendix A:

Coin Option - $3.61

ADSL6 on DLC loop - $16.54

ADSL on copper loop - $6.74

Verizon finds the "Coin Option" to be problematic because it is not a service that Verizon offers. Rather, loops for coin pay telephones are simply priced at the relevant loop price for the geographic zone. Verizon, therefore, requests that "Coin Option" be deleted.

We concur with Verizon's request. Since Verizon does not offer a special Coin Option service, it is appropriate to delete that item from Appendix A.

According to Verizon "ADSL on DLC Loop" is not technically feasible. Verizon does not provision DSL services over digital loop carrier, and is not aware of any commercially practical way to do so. Verizon asks that this item be deleted because it does not exist.

We grant Verizon's request to delete ADSL on DLC loop from the appendix since the service is not technically feasible and Verizon does not provision DSL services over digital loop carrier.

The xDSL7 rate dispute centers around a single line item in Appendix A:

ADSL on copper loop - $6.74

As stated in Verizon's September 1, 2006 Petition for Modification, this element is somewhat ambiguous. However, Verizon's request for clarification led to a dispute regarding the nature of this rate: whether the "ADSL on Copper Loop" rate was a "stand-alone" rate or an "additive" rate. Verizon argued that the ADSL rate was an additive to the geographically deaveraged rates for UNE loops for ADSL-capable lines. Among other things, Verizon pointed to the arbitrage possibilities inherent in providing a $6.74 loop in all geographic zones, whereas, other loops, with less capacity, could be priced as much as several hundred dollars more.

A number of CLECs, including Covad, argued that the ADSL rate was a stand-alone rate for all loops leased for ADSL use, regardless of the geographic zone in which they were provisioned. Covad noted, among other things, the absence of record evidence to support the "additive" position, and the inclusion of the ADSL rate in Exhibit RAM-9 to the Declaration of the principal cost model witness, Dr. Mercer. Covad maintained that permitting Verizon to add an additional $6.74 for ADSL-compatible loops would allow over-recovery of costs.

In their Joint Petition, Verizon and Covad state that there is a third compromise alternative to the "stand-alone" and the "additive" positions, and Joint Petitioners believe that this proposal would be an acceptable means of resolving this issue. Joint Petitioners propose to eliminate the $6.74 ADSL over copper rate altogether and treat two-wire and four-wire copper loops the same within geographic density zones, regardless of whether the loop is xDSL-compatible or whether xDSL is being provisioned, thereby applying the Commission-approved 2-wire loop rates and 4-wire loop rates to xDSL capable loops. According to the Joint Petitioners, as this rate was not otherwise mentioned in D.06-03-025, changes to Appendix A are the only ones needed to correct this particular issue.

In its revised form Appendix A would include the following new line - items:

Unbundled Network Element Monthly Recurring Charge

Loops

two-wire xDSL Compatible Loop (inclusive of NID)

Zone 1 $ 11.93

Zone 2 $ 46.71

Zone 3 $ 134.74

Zone 4 $ 525.70

four-wire xDSL Compatible Loop (inclusive of NID)

Zone 1 $ 23.06

Zone 2 $ 90.27

Zone 3 $ 260.42

Zone 4 $1,016.05

According to the Joint Petitioners, the rates depicted for xDSL Compatible Loops (inclusive of NID) are the same as those for two-wire or four-wire Digital Loops (inclusive of NID), but are set forth separately in proposed Appendix A for clarity. Under this proposal, both the arbitrage opportunity alleged by Verizon and the over-recovery claimed by Covad are eliminated.

In its response to the Joint Petition, CALTEL supports the resolution reached by the Joint Petitioners and encourages the Commission to adopt it.

We find that the proposal by the Joint Petitioners provides a good compromise to the positions argued earlier in the proceeding, and no party opposes the proposal so we adopt it here. Appendix A has been modified as proposed by the Joint Petitioners.

1 Order on Remand, In re: Unbundled Access to Network Elements, WC Docket No. 04-313, FCC 04-290 (rel. Feb. 4, 2005)(TRRO).

2 D.06-03-025 at 141.

3 Premerger AT&T, a CLEC.

4 TR at 16519, Law and Motion Hearing, February 3, 2004 (ALJ Duda).

5 Mercer Declaration at ¶ 25, p. 15.

6 Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line.

7 While Appendix A in D.06-03-025 refers to ADSL, Verizon says that the rate should include all types of DSL service, not just the asymmetric brand. Therefore, the rates adopted will refer to xDSL service.

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