FCC’s Enforcement Bureau set up program to monitor Bell companies...

to establish more formal program. Bureau said in announcement Thurs. that it had established Sec. 271 Compliance Review Team with responsibility for monitoring Bells “on a more structured and systematic basis.” Team will be staffed by attorneys, auditors and other members of bureau’s Investigations & Hearings Div. (IHD). After Bell company receives Sec. 271 approval, team will scrutinize its performance data and other information to determine whether it still is providing adequate access to local competitors. Process will include compliance reviews 6 and 12 months after approval, focusing on any concerns raised by Commission when it granted Sec. 271 approval. If team determines possible lack of compliance it will initiate investigation. Team’s oversight responsibilities will be divided along Bell company regions, with separate group for each region. Bureau said concerns about possible lack of compliance should be directed to Maureen Del Duca, deputy IHD chief. Team also will serve as point of contact for state regulatory commissions. Formal complaints still may be filed as well. FCC Chmn. Powell said team approach represented “a new phase of Sec. 271 enforcement.” ALTS Gen. Counsel Jonathan Askin said he was “optimistic that this could be a worthwhile process.” He said he particularly liked “date certain” reviews every 6 and 12 months and “clearer points of contact” for raising concerns about Bell compliance.