Regulatory Treatment of LEC Provision of Interexchange Services Originating in the LEC's Local Exchange Area

Resumo

The Second Report and Order in CC Docket No. 96-149 and Third Report and Order in CC Docket No. 96-61 (Order) addresses issues concerning market definition, the regulatory treatment of Bell Operating Companies' (BOCs) and independent local exchange carriers' (LECs) provision of in-region long distance and international services, and separation requirements for the BOCs' and independent LECs' provision of out-of-region long distance services. This action taken by the Commission will further the pro-competitive, deregulatory objectives of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act) by eliminating unnecessary regulation that is currently imposed on BOCs and, in certain circumstances, on independent LECs.