Skip to content
DWT logo
People Expertise Insights
About Locations Careers
Search
People
Expertise
Insights
About
Locations
Careers
Search
Advisories
Communications

FCC Denies SBC Forbearance Petition – IP Enabled Services

05.12.05
Share
Print this page

Last week the FCC denied, on procedural grounds, SBC’s request that the Commission forbear from applying Title II common carrier obligations to SBC’s so-called “IP Platform Services.” SBC did not specifically define or describe the services at issue, and the broader implications of the forbearance petition are already under consideration in the pending rulemaking proceeding concerning the regulatory classification and treatment of IP-enabled services generally. See  update, Feb. 12, 2004. Also included in that rulemaking is SBC’s alternative petition for a declaratory ruling that its “IP Platform Services” are not subject to Title II regulation at all.

SBC had declined suggestions to withdraw the petition and allow the FCC to make its Title II and Internet decisions in the IP-enabled services rulemaking. The Commission had to take action by last Thursday or the petition would have been deemed granted by operation of law. The ruling on SBC’s petition therefore allows the Commission to defer the tougher issues to the rulemaking. Importantly, SBC only sought relief from regulatory obligations that would apply to its IP Platform Service under Title II. SBC did not request relief from Title VI, so nothing in the FCC’s order should allow SBC or any other ILEC to claim exemption from or avoid any Title VI obligation that would otherwise apply to their provision of IP-enabled video services.

Please contact us if you would like additional information.

Related Articles

DWT logo
©1996-2022 Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
NAVIGATE
Home People Expertise Insights
About Locations Careers Events Blogs
STAY CONNECTED

Subscribe to stay informed.

Subscribe
Employees
DWT Collaborate
EEO
Affiliations
Legal notices
Privacy policy
©1996-2022 Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Close
Close

CAUTION - Before you proceed, please note: By clicking “accept” you agree that our review of the information contained in your e-mail and any attachments will not create an attorney-client relationship, and will not prevent any lawyer in our firm from representing a party in any matter where that information is relevant, even if you submitted the information in good faith to retain us.