Widevoice Communications Inc. v. Qwest Communications Company, LLC

Filing 18

ORDER Granting in Part and Denying in Part 1 Qwest Communications Company, LLC's Motion to Compel Subpoenas to WideVoice Communications, Inc. WideVoice shall serve the requested documents in accordance with this order 10 days from the entry of this order. Signed by Magistrate Judge Cam Ferenbach on 4/26/12. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - EDS)

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1 2 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 3 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 4 WIDEVOICE COMMUNICATIONS, INC., 5 Plaintiff, 6 v. 7 8 QWEST COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, LLC, Defendant. 9 *** ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) 2:12-cv-00467-GMN -VCF ORDER 10 Before the court is movant Qwest Communications Company, LLC’s (“Qwest”) Motion To 11 Compel Subpoenas To WideVoice Communications, Inc. (#1). WideVoice Communications, Inc 12 (“WideVoice”) filed an Opposition (#4), and Qwest filed a Reply (#11). 13 Background 14 Qwest filed its second amended complaint in the underlying action in the Southern District of 15 Iowa, Central Division (“Iowa action”)(Case No. 07-cv-00078-JEG-RAW) on December 15, 2010. (#116 1 Exhibit 3). Qwest asserts that it “seeks to recover damages caused by the [d]efendants for engaging 17 in their illegal, unfair and fraudulent practice of billing millions of dollars in purported terminating 18 switched access charges to Qwest, and other long distant carriers, that the local exchange carrier 19 [d]efendants' (“LEC Defendants'') interstate and intrastate tariffs do not authorize or contemplate, and 20 to enjoin the LEC Defendants from issuing invoices to Qwest containing such charges for calls 21 delivered to telephone numbers assigned to Free Calling Service Companies (“FCSCs”) going forward.” 22 Id. Relevant to the issue before this court, Qwest names Great Lakes Communication Corp. (“Great 23 Lakes”) as an LEC defendant, and Free Conferencing Corporation (“Free Conferencing”) as an FCSC 24 defendant. Id. 25 Qwest asserts that the LEC Defendants engage in “traffic pumping,” and that the FCC has 26 1 “issued several decisions holding traffic pumping schemes illegal, in violation of the Communications 2 Act.” (#1). In order to camouflage the illegal nature of these schemes, Qwest asserts, LEC Defendants 3 began rearranging their relationships by creating “intermediate carriers” to “deliver traffic at lower rates 4 than the traffic pumping LEC’s tariff rates.” Id. Qwest alleges that WideVoice was created to serve 5 as an intermediate carrier, and that WideVoice shares management and owners with FCSC defendant 6 Free Conferencing, and now owns Free Conferencing. Id. Qwest asserts that WideVoice is able to 7 deliver calls at lower rates because “it enters into contracts with local carriers in which it does not have 8 to pay the local carrier’s terminating switched access charges at tariff rates; instead WideVoice gets 9 preferential terms in violation of 47 U.S.C. § 202.” Id. Upon information and belief, Qwest asserts that 10 WideVoice has a relationship with LEC defendant Great Lakes, and that on WideVoice’s website, it 11 identifies Great Lakes as one of its LEC relationships. Id. 12 On November 28, 2011, Qwest served WideVoice with a subpoena to produce documents and 13 a subpoena to testify at a deposition in connection with the Iowa action. Id. The deposition was 14 scheduled for February 9, 2012, and was concerning topics related to the subpoenaed documents. Id. 15 Qwest also served WideVoice with a copy of the protective order (#1-4 Exhibit 25) governing 16 confidential discovery in the Iowa action for WideVoice’s signature. Id. On December 14, 2011, 17 WideVoice served Qwest with its responses and objections to the subpoena for documents, wherein 18 WideVoice refused to produce a single document, and asserted two objections: (1) the request violated 19 the amended procedural scheduling order in the Iowa action, and (2) the request is “overbroad, vague, 20 unduly burdensome and not reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.” Id. 21 WideVoice did not object to producing an individual for the deposition (#4), but Qwest cancelled the 22 deposition, asserting that WideVoice’s “refusal to produce documents made the deposition impossible 23 to complete when scheduled.” (#11). 24 Motion To Compel (#1) 25 26 Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 45(a)(2)(B) and (C), a subpoena for attendance at 2 1 a deposition or for production or inspection must issue from the court where the deposition is to be 2 taken or where the production or inspection is to be made. Rule 45(c)(2)(B) states that “[a] person 3 commanded to produce documents or tangible things or permit inspection may serve on the party or 4 attorney designated in the subpoena a written objection...,” and that the objection must “be served before 5 the earlier of the time specified for compliance or 14 days after the subpoena is served.” Fed. R. Civ. 6 P. 45(c)(2)(B). If an objection is served, the party that issued the subpoena “may move the issuing court 7 for an order compelling production or inspection.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(c)(2)(B)(I). 8 As WideVoice is a Nevada corporation and this court issued the subpoenas (#1-2) pursuant to 9 Rule 45(a)(2)(B) and (C), Qwest filed the present motion to compel in this court. (#1). Qwest asserts 10 in its motion that WideVoice’s objections are untimely and baseless, and asks this court to compel 11 WideVoice to produce the documents requested and to deem its objections waived. Id. Qwest also 12 asserts that the subpoenas were timely served pursuant to the Iowa action’s procedural schedule, and 13 that the documents sought are relevant and discoverable. Id. 14 A. 15 On November 10, 2011, the court in the Iowa action issued a text order granting the unopposed 16 motion to amend the procedural schedule, and stating that the fact discovery deadline was extended to 17 February 28, 2012, “except no new interrogatories or document requests shall be served.” (#1-3 Exhibit 18 9). The motion that sought the discovery extension did not mention the issuing of subpoenas or 19 discovery related to third parties. (#1-3 Exhibit 10). On January 16, 2012, the parties in the Iowa action 20 filed an unopposed motion to amend the procedural schedule, seeking to extend discovery until May 21 29, 2012, and stating that “[u]nder the extension, the parties are allowed to take depositions of parties, 22 serve requests for admissions on parties under Rule 36(a)(1)(B) only, and conduct third-party discovery 23 (including subpoenas and depositions).” (#1-3 Exhibit 11). The court granted this motion on January 24 17, 2012. (#1-3 Exhibit 12). 25 26 Timeliness Of Qwest’s Subpoenas Qwest argues that based on the latest amendment to the scheduling order and the fact that the 3 1 “one published case that addresses a similar scheduling order found the deadline for requests for 2 production under Rule 34 did not apply to subpoenas,” there “can be no question...that third-party 3 subpoenas, such as those issued to WideVoice, are fully appropriate under the current scheduling order.” 4 (#1); See Smith v. Midland Brake, Inc., 162 F.R.D. 683, 686 (D. Kan. 1995). WideVoice opposes the 5 motion to compel, and asserts that Qwest improperly served the Rule 45 subpoenas 18 days after the 6 discovery deadline in the Iowa action. (#4). Despite the fact that the January 17, 2012, amended 7 scheduling order (#1-3 Exhibit 12) permitted serving subpoenas on third-parties, WideVoice argues that 8 “[a]t the time of service, nowhere in the [c]ourt’s procedural schedules does it state that the discovery 9 deadlines were limited only to “party discovery.”” Id. 10 The court finds that the subpoenas were timely and were not in violation of the scheduling order, 11 as the November 10, 2011, order (#1-3 Exhibit 9) was silent as to third-party discovery, and the most 12 recent order expressly permitted serving subpoenas on third-parties (#1-3 Exhibit 12). WideVoice’s 13 objection is overruled. 14 15 B. Timeliness Of WideVoice’s Objections 1. Relevant Law 16 Absent unusual circumstances, “[a] nonparty’s failure to timely make objections to a Rule 45 17 subpoena duces tecum generally requires the court to find that any objections have been waived.” Moon 18 v. SCP Pool Corp., 232 F.R.D. 633,636 (C.D. Cal. 2005)(citing In re DG Acquisition Corp., 151 F.3d 19 75, 81 (2nd Cir. 1998). A responding party must establish unusual circumstances and good cause in 20 order for a court to consider the untimely objections. Concord Boat Corp. v. Brunswick Corp., 169 21 F.R.D. 44, 48 (S.D.N.Y. 1996). Courts have found unusual circumstances where: (1) the subpoena is 22 overbroad on its face and exceeds the bounds of fair discovery; (2) the subpoenaed witness is a 23 non-party acting in good faith; and (3) counsel for the witness and counsel for the subpoenaing party 24 were in contact concerning the witness’ compliance prior to the time the witness challenged the legal 25 basis for the subpoena. Id. 26 4 1 2. Arguments 2 Qwest asserts that since WideVoice’s objections were received on December 14, 2011, two days 3 late, WideVoice waived its objections and has a “heightened burden to substantiate the legitimacy of 4 its objections. (#1); See Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(c)(2)(B)(I). WideVoice “acknowledges that it did not serve 5 its written objections until December 14, 2011,” but argues that its failure should not bar consideration 6 of its objections. (#4). WideVoice argues that several circumstances support the court considering its 7 objections: (1) it is a non-party acting in good faith, (2) no prejudice resulted from the two day delay, 8 (3) the subpoena was in violation of the scheduling order, (4) the subpoena is overbroad, objectionable 9 on its face, vague and ambiguous, and seeks production of confidential and proprietary information, and 10 (5) the subpoena was served in the District of Nevada, and neither WideVoice nor this court has any 11 involvement in the “complex and long-standing” Iowa action. Id. 12 Qwest counters WideVoice’s last argument by stating that the fact that “the underlying action 13 is pending in another district is not one of the factors considered by courts for excusing lateness in 14 subpoena objections,” and pointing out that Rule 45 expressly contemplates subpoenas being issued in 15 districts where the subpoenaed person is subject to service. (#11). Qwest also asserts that WideVoice’s 16 statement that it was acting in good faith is belied by the fact that WideVoice was not in contact with 17 Qwest’s counsel before the 14 days expired, and that Qwest’s counsel had to contact defendant Free 18 Conferencing to ascertain whether WideVoice would be responding and/or producing a deponent. Id. 19 Qwest contends that WideVoice had notice that the subpoenas were forthcoming, as Qwest’s counsel 20 informed Free Conferencing’s then counsel that Qwest intended to subpoena WideVoice, notices of the 21 subpoenas were served on all counsel of record, and, although Free Conferencing and WideVoice are 22 formally organized as separate corporate entities, Qwest understands that WideVoice now owns Free 23 Conferencing and the entities now share counsel, Mr Swier. Id. Qwest also asserts that WideVoice 24 does not contend that it was unaware of the forthcoming subpoenas. Id. 25 26 With regard to WideVoice “disclaiming involvement in the underlying action,” Qwest argues 5 1 that WideVoice does not claim ignorance to the underlying action, it does not dispute that its affiliate 2 Free Conferencing is a party to that action, and it does not dispute that it has a relationship with at least 3 defendant Great Lakes. Id. Qwest asserts that since WideVoice has failed to demonstrate any “unusual 4 circumstances to avoid a waiver of its objections due to lateness,” the court should deem WideVoice’s 5 objections waived. Id. 3. 6 Discussion 7 The court finds that WideVoice’s two day delay in serving its objections is excusable. Despite 8 the fact that the court is not persuaded by many of the arguments WideVoice advances1, the court finds 9 that WideVoice acted in good faith and that the late objections did not impact the Iowa action in such 10 a way that considering the objections would be unjust. Concord Boat Corp., 169 F.R.D. at 48. 11 C. Documents Requested/Objections Thereto 12 “A Rule 45 subpoena must fall within the scope of proper discovery under Fed. R. Civ. P. 13 26(b)(1), which limits discovery to ‘any matter, not privileged, that is relevant to the claim or defense 14 of any party in the pending action...’” Olde Towne Dev. Group, LLC v. Matthews, 2009 WL 2021723, 15 *1 (M.D. La. July 9, 2009). Relevance within the meaning of Rule 26(b)(1) is considerably broader 16 than relevance for trial purposes. See Oppenheimer Fund v. Sanders, 437 U.S. 340, 351 (1978) (citation 17 omitted). For discovery purposes, relevance means only that the materials sought are reasonably 18 calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence. Id. “If a subpoena falls outside the scope 19 of permissible discovery, the Court has authority to quash or modify it upon a timely motion by the party 20 served . . .” Olde Towne Dev. Group, LLC, 2009 WL 2021723, *1. 21 WideVoice asserts that the documents requested are beyond the scope of Rule 26, but that “in 22 an attempt to narrow the issues in this matter, WideVoice would agree to produce some of the requested 23 1 24 25 26 WideVoice argues that the objections should be considered, among other reasons, because the subpoena is overbroad, objectionable on its face, vague and ambiguous, and seeks production of confidential and proprietary information. (#4). However, a few pages after making this argument, WideVoice agrees to produce a large portion of the discovery sought. Id. 6 1 information...” “to the extent that these materials do not constitute confidential financial information 2 or proprietary information.” (#4). The court hereby orders WideVoice to produce such documents 3 within ten (10) days from the entry of this order. With regard to WideVoice’s concern relating to the 4 confidential or proprietary nature of the information sought, WideVoice shall sign the protective order 5 attached to the subpoenas (#1-4 Exhibit 25) and shall produce all documents as agreed to, including 6 those deemed confidential or proprietary, and designate them either “Confidential” or “Attorneys’ Eyes 7 Only” as applicable. Bible v. Rio Properties, Inc., 246 F.R.D. 614, 619-20 (C.D.Cal. 2007)(holding that 8 “if defendant truly believes it has “confidential” or “proprietary information” that should be protected 9 by a protective order, it should have entered into a stipulated protective order with plaintiff or filed a 10 motion for a protective order before the date by which it was to respond to plaintiff's requests.”). The 11 court will address the remaining document requests below. 12 1. Request No. 1: Provide all documents evidencing communications (including but 13 not limited to correspondence or other documentation exchanged) between you and: a. Any Defendant 14 LEC (local exchange carrier); b. Any long distance carrier about delivery of calls to a LEC Defendant; 15 c. Any centralized equal access provider in Iowa (such as Iowa Network Services, INS) for ultimate 16 delivery to a LEC Defendant; d. Any LEC in Iowa; and e. Any FCSC. Id. WideVoice agrees to provide 17 documents responsive to 1(a)-(c), but objects to 1(d) and (e). Id. WideVoice asserts that it should only 18 be required to produce information relating to any defendant LEC in the state of Iowa, and that any 19 information relating to non-defendant LECs is not relevant or reasonably calculated to lead to the 20 discovery of admissible evidence. Id. WideVoice also asserts that it should not be required to provide 21 information that relates to any FCSC that is “unrelated to the state of Iowa as this information is beyond 22 the scope of the [Iowa action] and is not reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible 23 evidence.” Id. 24 With regard to request 1(d), Qwest asserts that information relating communications between 25 WideVoice and “any LEC in Iowa” is relevant, because (1) “traffic pumping carriers routinely modify 26 7 1 their corporate structure in an attempt to evade the import of their schemes,” and that a new entity could 2 exist that is nothing more than a reframed Free Conferencing, (2) Qwest wants to obtain evidence that 3 shows WideVoice targets only carriers involved in traffic pumping and does not serve the broader 4 telecommunications marketplace, (3) prior counsel admitted that material related to all of Iowa is 5 relevant, and (4) WideVoice does not dispute its alleged role in the traffic pumping scheme. (#11). As 6 Qwest intends on demonstrating that WideVoice serves only those carriers involved in the illegal traffic 7 pumping, i.e. the defendant LECs, evidence of communications, or the lack thereof, between WideVoice 8 and any LEC in Iowa is relevant. Oppenheimer Fund, 437 U.S. at 351; Olde Towne Dev. Group, LLC, 9 2009 WL 2021723, *1. Ordering WideVoice to produce such documents demonstrating their 10 communications would provide WideVoice and Free Conferencing the opportunity to negate any 11 allegation of discrimination. WideVoice is hereby ordered to produce documents responsive to request 12 1(d) within ten (10) days from the entry of this order. 13 Qwest asserts that documents responsive to request 1(e) are relevant, because (1) prior counsel 14 admitted the documents were material, (2) WideVoice has an ownership relationship with the largest 15 known FCSC, Free Conferencing, and “[c]ommunications between those two related companies relating 16 to Iowa are clearly relevant,” and (3) to the extent WideVoice is interacting with other FCSCs and 17 encouraging them to utilize long distant carriers, such information would be highly germane in 18 demonstrating that Qwest’s revenue stream is being directly impacted and that the discrimination is 19 causing damages. (#11). In Qwest’s complaint in the Iowa action, it asserts that Free Conferencing, 20 who allegedly created WideVoice as an “intermediate carrier,” is a corporation that provides, among 21 other things, “free” conference call services, “free” webinars, “free” international calling, and “free” 22 pre-recorded playback through connections with, or through Iowa telephone numbers assigned to it, by 23 at least the following LEC Defendant[s]: Farmers-Riceville, Great Lakes, Farmers-Riceville (sic), 24 Dixon, and 135. (#1-1). According to the complaint, each of these LEC Defendants provide local 25 exchange carrier services in Iowa. Id. 26 8 1 The court finds that communications between WideVoice and any FCSC relating to the state 2 of Iowa only are relevant to the underlying Iowa action. Oppenheimer Fund, 437 U.S. at 351; Olde 3 Towne Dev. Group, LLC, 2009 WL 2021723, *1. WideVoice is hereby ordered to produce documents 4 evidencing communications (including but not limited to correspondence or other documentation 5 exchanged) between WideVoice and any FCSC relating to the state of Iowa within ten (10) days from 6 the entry of this order. 7 2. Request No. 2: Provide all contracts, agreements or other documentation or 8 understandings or arrangements between you and: a. Any Defendant LEC; b. Any long distance carrier 9 about delivery of calls to a LEC Defendant; c. Any centralized equal access provider in Iowa (such as 10 Iowa Network Services, INS) for ultimate delivery to a LEC Defendant; d. Any LEC in Iowa; and e. 11 Any FCSC. (#4). WideVoice agrees to produce documents responsive to 2(a)-(c), but objects to 2(d) 12 and (e). Id. WideVoice asserts the same objections as it did with respect to requests 1(d) and (e). Id. 13 For the same reasons as outlined above, the court finds that contracts, agreements, or other 14 documentation or understandings or arrangements between WideVoice and any LEC in Iowa and any 15 FCSC relating to Iowa are relevant to the Iowa action. Oppenheimer Fund, 437 U.S. at 351; Olde 16 Towne Dev. Group, LLC, 2009 WL 2021723, *1. 17 documents within ten (10) days from the entry of this order. WideVoice is hereby ordered to produce such 18 3. Requests Nos. 3-5: Provide your interstate access tariffs, rate and service schedule 19 (RSSs) or price lists, Iowa access tariffs, RSSs or price lists, and local exchange tariffs, catalogs or price 20 lists. (#4). WideVoice states that it would agree to produce limited responsive materials, such as its 21 interstate access tariffs, Iowa access tariffs, and local exchange tariffs, if any, but objects to the 22 production of its RSSs, price lists, or catalogs. Id. WideVoice asserts that since Qwest and WideVoice 23 are “direct competitors,” such documents constitute confidential financial information and proprietary 24 information. Id. As previously stated, Qwest provided WideVoice with a copy of the protective order 25 which gives WideVoice the ability to designate documents “Confidential” or “Attorneys’ Eyes Only.” 26 9 1 (#1-4 Exhibit 25). As signing the protective order will adequately address WideVoice’s concerns and 2 negate its objections, the court hereby orders WideVoice to sign the protective order and to produce the 3 documents requested in Nos. 3-5, designating such documents accordingly, within ten (10) days from 4 the entry of this order. See Bible, 246 F.R.D. at 619-20 5 4. Requests Nos. 6-7: Provide all documents relating to the volume of traffic that has 6 been routed to or through you for delivery to or from, and the revenues you have billed and/or received 7 from any of the following: a. Any Defendant LEC; b. Any long distance carrier about delivery of calls 8 to a LEC Defendant; c. Any centralized equal access provider in Iowa (such as Iowa Network Services, 9 INS) for ultimate delivery to a LEC Defendant; d. Any LEC in Iowa; and e. Any FCSC. (#4). Wide 10 Voice states that it will produce documents responsive to requests 6(a)-(c) and 7(a)-(c), but objects to 11 producing 6(d) and (e) and 7(d) and (e). Id. WideVoice objects on the same grounds as it did with 12 respect to requests 1(d) and (e) and 2(d) and (e). Id. For the same reasons as outlined in the sections 13 above, the court finds that documents relating to the volume of traffic that has been routed to or through 14 WideVoice for delivery to or from, or relating to revenues WideVoice has billed and/or received from 15 any LEC in Iowa and any FCSC relating to Iowa are relevant to the Iowa action. Oppenheimer Fund, 16 437 U.S. at 351; Olde Towne Dev. Group, LLC, 2009 WL 2021723, *1. WideVoice is hereby ordered 17 to produce such documents within ten (10) days from the entry of this order. 18 5. Request No. 8: Provide all documents relating to the monies you have been billed 19 and/or paid to any of the following: a. Any Defendant LEC; b. Any centralized equal access provider 20 in Iowa (such as Iowa Network Services, INS) for ultimate delivery to a LEC Defendant; c. Any LEC 21 in Iowa; and d. Any FCSC. (#4). WideVoice agrees to produce documents responsive to 8(a) and (b), 22 but objects to 8(c) and (d) on the same grounds as requests 1, 2, 6, and 7. Id. For the same reasons as 23 outlined in the sections above, the court finds that documents relating to the monies WideVoice has 24 been billed and/or paid to any LEC in Iowa and any FCSC relating to Iowa are relevant to the Iowa 25 action. Oppenheimer Fund, 437 U.S. at 351; Olde Towne Dev. Group, LLC, 2009 WL 2021723, *1. 26 10 1 WideVoice is hereby ordered to produce such documents within ten (10) days from the entry of this 2 order. 3 6. Request No. 10: Provide all documents relating to any ownership interest, 4 partnership, membership, profit participation, compensation arrangement, or other financial holdings 5 in your entity, including how the ownership has changed over time. (#4). WideVoice objects to this 6 request, and asserts that the request seeks documents beyond the scope of the Iowa action and is not 7 reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence. Id. Qwest argues that such 8 information is directly relevant to its allegations of “traffic pumping,” as some of the entities allegedly 9 participating in this scheme have “created other companies sharing common or related ownership or 10 financial interests to further their participation in traffic pumping.” (#11). Qwest also asserts that the 11 information would be directly relevant to the conduct of at least defendants Free Consulting and Great 12 Lakes, “both of which have known connections to WideVoice, Inc.” Id. 13 As Qwest alleges that defendants in the Iowa action have created entities, such as WideVoice, 14 to act as “intermediate carriers” in an attempt to cover up the illegal nature of the “traffic pumping” 15 scheme, the court finds that information relating to ownership interest, partnership, membership, profit 16 participation, compensation arrangement, or other financial holdings in WideVoice, including how the 17 ownership of WideVoice has changed over time, is relevant. Oppenheimer Fund, 437 U.S. at 351; Olde 18 Towne Dev. Group, LLC, 2009 WL 2021723, *1. WideVoice is hereby ordered to produce such 19 documents within ten (10) days from the entry of this order. 20 7. Request No. 11: Provide all documents relating to sharing of revenues, marketing 21 fees or commissions (or the contemplation of sharing of revenues, marketing fees or commissions) with 22 providers of telecommunication services in Iowa, including but not limited to: a. Any Defendant LEC; 23 b. Any long distance carrier about delivery of calls to a LEC Defendant; c. Any centralized equal access 24 provider in Iowa (such as Iowa Network Services, INS) for ultimate delivery to a LEC Defendant; d. 25 Any LEC in Iowa; and e. Any FCSC. (#4). WideVoice objects to this request, and asserts that it is 26 11 1 vague and ambiguous regarding the term “contemplation of sharing of revenues, marketing fees or 2 commissions,” and that it “simply does not understand this [r]equest.” Id. Qwest argues in its reply that 3 the request is self-explanatory, that revenue sharing has become a well recognized term in the traffic 4 pumping industry, and that WideVoice could have raised concerns regarding the inability to understand 5 the language of the request during pre-motion conferring, but failed to. (#11). 6 The court finds that the request is clear, and orders that if the term “contemplation of sharing 7 of revenues, marketing fees or commission” is ambiguous to WideVoice in any way, WideVoice must 8 confer with Qwest’s counsel within five (5) days from the entry of this order in a good faith attempt to 9 clarify the language. WideVoice shall produce documents responsive to this request within ten (10) 10 days from the entry of this order. 11 8. Request No. 12: Provide all documents relating to any plan to share revenues, 12 marketing fees or commissions with: a. Any Defendant LEC; b. Any long distance carrier about delivery 13 of calls to a LEC Defendant; c. Any centralized equal access provider in Iowa (such as Iowa Network 14 Services, INS) for ultimate delivery to a LEC Defendant; d. Any LEC in Iowa; and e. Any FCSC. (#4). 15 WideVoice objects to this request as vague and ambiguous, and asserts that it simply does not 16 understand the term “plan to share revenues, marketing fees or commissions.” Id. As with the previous 17 request, Qwest argues that the request is self-explanatory, that revenue sharing is a well recognized 18 term, and that WideVoice could have addressed this concern during pre-motion conferring, but failed 19 to. (#11). 20 The court finds that this request is clear, and orders WideVoice to confer regarding any 21 ambiguity within five (5) days from the entry of this order. WideVoice shall produce documents 22 responsive to this request within ten (10) days from the entry of this order. Request No. 12(e) seeking 23 documents relating to “any FCSC” is limited for the same reasons articulated above by the court, and 24 in response to 12(e), WideVoice is ordered to produce only documents relating to any plan to share 25 revenues, marketing fees or commissions with any FCSC relating to Iowa. Oppenheimer Fund, 437 26 12 1 U.S. at 351; Olde Towne Dev. Group, LLC, 2009 WL 2021723, *1. 2 9. Request No. 13: Provide all documents relating to the rates, terms, conditions under 3 which you obtain collocation from any party including but not limited to: a. Any Defendant LEC; b. Any 4 long distance carrier about delivery of calls to a LEC Defendant; c. Any centralized equal access 5 provider in Iowa (such as Iowa Network Services, INS) for ultimate delivery to a LEC Defendant; d. 6 Any LEC in Iowa; and e. Any FCSC. (#4). WideVoice objects to this request as vague and ambiguous 7 regarding the term “[p]rovide all documents...from any party.” Id. WideVoice is hereby ordered to 8 produce documents responsive to this request within ten (10) days from the entry of this order, and, to 9 clarify the request, the language “from any party including but not limited to,” is modified to read “from 10 the following.” Request No. 13(e) seeking documents relating to “any FCSC” is limited for the same 11 reasons articulated above by the court, and in response to 13(e), WideVoice is ordered to produce only 12 documents relating to the rates, terms, conditions under which WideVoice obtains collocation from any 13 FCSC relating to Iowa. Oppenheimer Fund, 437 U.S. at 351; Olde Towne Dev. Group, LLC, 2009 WL 14 2021723, *1. 15 Accordingly, and for good cause shown, 16 IT IS ORDERED that Qwest Communications Company, LLC’s Motion To Compel Subpoenas 17 To WideVoice Communications, Inc. (#1) is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part, as discussed 18 above. 19 20 21 IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that WideVoice shall serve the requested documents in accordance with this order within ten (10) days from the entry of this order. DATED this 26th day of April, 2012. 22 23 24 CAM FERENBACH UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 25 26 13

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