FCC and SBC entered into consent agreement under which carrier wi...

were for long distance service in Mo., Okla., Kan. FCC said SBC also agreed to put in place procedures “designed to ensure the accuracy of information contained in future Section 271 affidavits it submits to the FCC.” Commission said SBC had “committed to taking additional steps to ensure that all of its employees who engage in contacts with the FCC are properly educated and thus made aware of their obligation to provide truthful, accurate and complete information to the Commission.” Separate inquiries at FCC had involved technical information on certain OSS systems. SBC said it was pleased Commission’s action had brought inquiries to close. “SBC’s position throughout these inquiries has been that the inaccuracies in the 271 proceedings were the result of good-faith efforts in describing highly technical matters, and not the product of any intent to mislead the Commission or its staff,” SBC Senior Vp-Regulatory Priscilla Hill-Ardoin said. “We take seriously our obligation to provide complete, timely and accurate information.” However, AT&T took SBC to task for what it called pattern of providing inaccurate information to FCC. AT&T cited SBC fine last year for violating one of conditions in its takeover of Ameritech and separate case in which SBC was cited by Commission for providing inaccurate information. “SBC has flunked ’truth school’ before and there’s no reason to think just another fine is going to change its behavior,” AT&T said. FCC said in order, which was adopted May 22 and released Tues., its investigations had focused on competitors’ access to SBC’s operations support systems (OSS) and information SBC provided to FCC as part of its Sec. 271 applications. On Sec. 271 issues, consent decree said affidavits that were at issue had to do with “inaccurate information” related to competitors’ allegations of problems in obtaining access to loop qualification information in Tex., Kan., Okla., Ark., Mo. Charges also involved electronic access to SBC’s loop maintenance operations system. SBC didn’t admit any noncompliance, violation or liability associated with allegations. Consent decree also said SBC had conducted internal investigation of one employee’s representations to FCC Enforcement Bureau on loop qualification probe. “Because of the unique circumstances of these representations,” including lack of witnesses, SBC indicated it had no basis on which to ascertain whether facts in allegations were accurate, consent decree said. Decree included compliance plan with contact protocol between SBC employees and FCC personnel that for carrier to train its FCC representatives as to requirements of consent decree. “SBC will take reasonable steps to ensure that only an SBC FCC representative schedules or participates in a contact with the Commission,” it said.