INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- FBN-Indiana, Inc. (FBN), a Hebron,
Ind.-based competitive local exchange carrier, represented by Christopher
"Kit" Earle, a partner in the Utilities Group with Bose McKinney & Evans, has
been granted relief today by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC)
in an Order requiring Ameritech Indiana ("Ameritech") to complete
interconnections FBN had requested from Ameritech. FBN filed two Complaints
with the IURC (in Cause Nos. 42001-INT-01-RD-01 and 42001-INT-01-RD-02)
alleging that Ameritech refused to provide interconnections required by its
Interconnection Agreement with Ameritech, and alleging that Ameritech had
failed to negotiate in good faith.
FBN presented extensive sworn testimony detailing that Ameritech had
refused to provide interconnections specifically required by the
Interconnection Agreement and had engaged in intentional delay resulting in
FBN's inability to provide service to customers across Ameritech's telephone
network. The IURC rejected each of Ameritech's reasons for refusing to
interconnect, in several instances noting that it had previously ruled against
Ameritech on the same issues in other proceedings.
"Interconnection" is the act of physically connecting one
telecommunications network to another, and Interconnection Agreements set out
the terms and conditions under which that interconnection is to be
accomplished. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 required incumbent local
exchange carriers (primarily the former Bell Companies such as Ameritech) to
provide non-discriminatory access to their telecommunications networks to
foster competition and innovation to the benefit of retail customers.
FBN is a Hebron, Indiana based telecommunications company that will
immediately provide services linking Internet Service Providers with their
customers throughout Northwestern Indiana, and expects to begin the provision
of a local and long-distance telecommunications services to residential and
business customers in the first quarter of 2003.
Bose McKinney & Evans provides a full-range of legal services to privately
owned businesses, publicly traded companies, high-tech organizations, and
governmental entities. The firm's offices are located in downtown
Indianapolis, in Parkwood Crossing on the north side of Indianapolis, and in
Washington, D.C. The firm's web address is http://www.boselaw.com .
SOURCE Bose McKinney & Evans LLP
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Related links:
http://www.boselaw.com
CONTACT:
Christopher "Kit" Earle of Bose McKinney &
Evans, +1-317-684-5130, or cearle@boselaw.com; or Chris Mercier
of Coles Public Relations, +1-317-571-0051, or
mercier@colespr.com
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