Michigan Public Service Commission Denies Motion for Rehearing on Ameritech Michigan's Section 271 Application

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The Michigan Public Service Commission issued an order on April 24, 1997, denying Brooks Fiber Communications of Michigan, Inc.'s motion for rehearing or reconsideration and motion for a contested case proceeding in relation to Ameritech Michigan's Section 271 application. The Commission had previously opened a docket to consider Ameritech Michigan's compliance with the competitive checklist in Section 271 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

As part of the process, the Commission had received comments from various parties, including Ameritech Michigan, AT&T Communications of Michigan, Inc., MCI Telecommunications Corporation, Teleport Communications Group, and LCI International Telecom, Inc. The Commission found that Ameritech Michigan had withdrawn its Section 271 application, and therefore, there was no need to reconsider its comments on an application that was now moot.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Michigan Public Service Commission denied Brooks Fiber Communications of Michigan, Inc.'s motion for rehearing or reconsideration and motion for a contested case proceeding on April 24, 1997.
  • The Commission found that Ameritech Michigan had withdrawn its Section 271 application, making the motion for rehearing or reconsideration moot.
  • The Commission determined that it had provided an adequate process for submitting comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and that a contested case proceeding was not necessary.
  • The Commission also found that its rules and procedures did not require a hearing in this docket, and that the federal act under which the application would be filed did not require a state commission to conduct a hearing before submitting comments to the FCC.
  • The Commission concluded that the process created by its orders in this docket provided an adequate basis for the Commission to submit comments to the FCC.
  • Interested parties remained free to file information in this docket for the Commission's consideration when preparing its comments on Ameritech Michigan's next Section 271 application.

Statistics:

  • 20 days: The time period allowed for state commissions to file comments on a Section 271 application.
  • 90 days: The time period allowed for the FCC to issue a decision on a Section 271 application.
  • April 24, 1997: The date on which the Michigan Public Service Commission issued the order denying the motion for rehearing or reconsideration and the motion for a contested case proceeding.
  • June 5, 1996: The date on which the Commission opened this docket to prepare for its consultation with the FCC.
  • August 28, 1996: The date on which the Commission issued an order providing additional structure to the process by which the Commission would evaluate Ameritech Michigan's compliance with the competitive checklist.
  • January 2, 1997: The date on which Ameritech Michigan filed its Section 271 application with the FCC.
  • January 17, 1997: The date on which Ameritech Michigan supplemented its filing.
  • February 5, 1997: The date on which the Commission, with Commissioner Shea dissenting, forwarded its comments to the FCC.

Sources:

  • Michigan Public Service Commission. (1997, April 24). In the matter, on the Commission's own motion, to consider AMERITECH MICHIGAN's compliance with the competitive checklist in Section 271 of Case No. U-11104 the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
  • Brooks Fiber Communications of Michigan, Inc. (1997, March 7). Motion for the Commission to conduct a contested case proceeding on Ameritech Michigan's compliance with the competitive checklist.
  • Attorneys General (1997, April 14). Response to Ameritech Michigan's filing.
  • Michigan Public Service Commission. (1997, August 28). Order providing additional structure to the process by which the Commission will evaluate Ameritech Michigan's compliance with the competitive checklist.
  • Ameritech Michigan. (1997, January 2). Section 271 application filed with the FCC.
  • Ameritech Michigan. (1997, January 17). Supplemental filing.
  • Michigan Public Service Commission. (1997, February 5). Order forwarding comments to the FCC.
  • Brooks Fiber Communications of Michigan, Inc. (1997, March 13). Motion for a contested case proceeding.
  • AT&T Communications of Michigan, Inc. (1997, March 24). Response to Brooks Fiber Communications of Michigan, Inc.'s motion.
  • MCI Telecommunications Corporation and Teleport Communications Group (1997, March 25). Response to Brooks Fiber Communications of Michigan, Inc.'s motion.
  • LCI International Telecom, Inc. (1997, March 28). Response to Brooks Fiber Communications of Michigan, Inc.'s motion.
  • Brooks Fiber Communications of Michigan, Inc. (1997, April 14). Response to Ameritech Michigan's filing.