VERIZON DELAWARE INC. - |
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Originally founded as the Diamond State Telephone Company in 1897, Verizon Delaware, Inc. is the Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC) in the State of Delaware. In 1994, Verizon elected to be governed by provisions of the "Telecommunications Technology Investment Act" ("TTIA") authorized by Delaware's General Assembly. As a result, Verizon's rates came under a "price cap" form of regulation rather than a traditional "rate of return" regulation. Several proceedings conducted by the Commission have extended the terms of the TTIA, which are in effect through September 23, 2011. However, as required by PSC Order No. 6646, Verizon must notify the Commission by September 23, 2010 whether it wishes to continue to be regulated under the terms of TTIA, or it must propose an alternative form of regulation for Commission review and approval.
OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1996
On December 16, 1996, Verizon Delaware, Inc. (f/k/a Bell-Atlantic Delaware, Inc.) filed a petition to implement directives of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 regarding Verizon's provision of Unbundled Network Elements (UNEs). On July 8, 1997, the Commission signed PSC Order No. 4542, approving Verizon's Statement of Terms and Conditions (SGAT), and establishing rates for recurring and non-recurring charges. Both Verizon and AT&T appealed some of the directives of PSC Order No. 4542 to the US District Court. While upholding the Commission's determination of the recurring rates, two issues were remanded to the Commission for further proceedings: Verizon's charges for access to Operation Support Systems ("OSS") and the Non-Recurring charges for UNEs.
In response to the directives of the Court of Appeals, the Commission initiated a Phase II proceeding in PSC Docket No. 96-324 to consider rates for UNEs that did not exist during Phase I of the docket, in addition to the issues remanded to the Commission by the US District Court. PSC Order No. 5967, signed June 4, 2002, keeps in effect recurring UNE rates adopted in Phase I that were not replaced by Verizon during Phase II. The Commission also approved Verizon's OSS charges. Commission approved rates from Phase I and Phase II were summarized by Verizon in a May 9, 2002 compliance filing, which were updated and revised in an August 12, 2002 filing.
- Recurring Rates (Exhibit D of Order 4542 upheld by appeal)
- UNE Rates: Summary of Recurring & Non-Recurring Rates (8/12/02 Revision to 5/9/02 Compliance Filing)
- Switching Rates: On August 30, 2002, Verizon notified the Commission that the Company would voluntarily lower its switching rates established in Phase I.
- Hot Cut Rates - see PSC Order No. 7166
- Interconnection Agreements and Arbitrations: Under 47 U.S.C. Sections 251 and 252 (as added by the Telecommunications Act of 1996), Verizon, Inc. and other carriers must negotiate to determine the terms of interconnection of their networks and the terms and rates for sale of the incumbent's network elements and services. The Delaware Public Service Commission is charged with the responsibility of providing mediation and conducting arbitration in those negotiations, as well as review any agreements reached between the carriers, or any "statement of terms of conditions" which may be filed by Verizon, Inc. PSC Docket No. 96-172 established a set of guidelines for the conduct of such negotiations, mediation, arbitration, and reviews.
- PSC Order No. 4245, signed July 23, 1996, contains the Guidelines for Negotiations, Mediation, Arbitration, and Approval of Interconnection Agreements (). The Publc Notice procedures of the Guidelines were modified by PSC Order No. 5683, signed March 27, 2001.
- List of Interconnection Agreements and Amendments approved by the Delaware Public Service Commission, and List of Amendments/Agreements Pending Action
- Public Notices of Telecommunications Interconnection Agreements Submitted for Approval (per PSC Order No. 5683)
AUTHORIZATION TO PROVIDE IN-REGION INTERLATA SERVICES
The Commission opened PSC Docket No. 02-001 on February 1, 2002, to examine Verizon's compliance with the Telecommunications Act of 1996 "Checklist" requirements which, if met, would allow Verizon to offer long distance service in Delaware. As part of this filing, Verizon also requested that the Commission formally adopt their recommended Carrier-to Carrier Guidelines Performance Standards and Reports ("C2C Guidelines ") and a Performance Assurance Plan ("PAP"). On July 17, 2002, the Commission supported Verizon's application in Consultative Comments filed at the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC"). The FCC ultimately granted Verizon the authority to offer long distance service in Delaware on September 25, 2002.
- In PSC Order No. 5983 (signed June 25, 2002), the Commission approved "Delaware Carrier-to-Carrier Guidelines Performance Standards and Reports" ("DE C2C Guidelines") and a "Delaware Performance Assurance Plan" ("DE PAP") to govern Verizon Delaware Inc. ("VZ-DE"). The DE C2C Guidelines set forth various metrics to measure how well VZ-DE provides its wholesale services to competing local exchange carriers. The DE PAP document, by various methodologies, translates substandard performances by VZ-DE (as measured by the DE C2C Guidelines) into monetary liabilities for VZ-DE. Both documents are based on similar documents developed, and currently used, in New York.
- In PSC Order No. 6344 (signed January 13, 2004), the process and procedures for proposed amendments, revisions and/or modifications to the "Delaware Carrier-to-Carrier Guidelines Performance Standards and Reports" and "Delaware Performance Assurance Plan" were approved.
- The current Delaware Carrier to Carrier Guidelines and Performance Plan are available from Verizon's website.
