Sprint Communications Company, L.P. v. Ntelos Telephone, Inc.
Filing
90
AMENDED MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Michael F. Urbanski on 8/6/12. (jat)
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11cv00082
V.
N TELO S TELEPH O N E INC .
,
By:
Mi
chaelF.U rbans
ki
Uni ed St esD i ri Judg
t
at
st ct
Def
endant
.
AM ENDED M EM O R AN DUM O PI IO N
N
Thi matri beor t c r oncos motonsfrs
s te s f e he ou t r s i o ummayj dgme fldby li if
r u
nt ie
antf
Sprn Co
it mmuniai Compan L. ,(s i )a dee n Nt osTee
c tons
y, P. d nf' nd fnda t el lphonel
spr
nc.
(û
C
NTELOS' ( . 50& 5 ,a dNTELOS'moi t sa a rf t caet t F d r
' Dkt#
)
7) n
ton o ty nd eerhe s o he eal
Commu c tonsCo si ($ ' ( . 64.Thepa te ha bree t is s a orl
niai
mmison $
FCC' Dkt# )
)
ris ve ifd he sue , nd a
ar
gumentw ashel on M ar 2,201 Fort r
d
ch
2.
he easonss f t bel ,t cr m oton f
et orh ow he oss i or
smmayj
u r udgmen aeDENI a NTELOS'motont sa a r frt smatrt teFCC
tr
ED nd
i o ty nd ee hi te o
i G R AN TED .
s
1.
Si atl 2002, Spri ,a l dit
nce east
nt ong sance t ephone car i , hasus d t l
el
rer1
e he ocal
tlph sr ce pr de byNTELOS, l a e ha ec rir($ ',f l di a e
ee one evi s ovi d
a oc l xc ng are $
LEC' or ong nc
)
calsorgi i and t m i i i t NTELOS s ce ar i t W eser D iti of igi a.
l i natng
er natng n he
ervi ea n he
t n srct
r ni
Sprntcont
i
endst ti wasover ged f l t ephone ser cespr ded by ?
ha t
char
or ocal el
vi
ovi
kTEL S and
1Ass h ca re stans i l dit nce c lsbe we l l eep
uc ri r r m t ong sa
a l t en oca t l honeexc ange ,t y a e r f red t a
h s he r e e r o s
itrx h n ec rir (û 2' .
n ee c a g a res ûX(s'
l )
s e ar und ofmor t n $3. m ilon f s r iebe we nJ y21 2007a Oc ob r31
e ks ef
e ha
9 li or e vc t e ul ,
nd t e ,
2009.
Tel
ecom m uni i car i s,s asN TELOS,f l t if whi upon FCC appr ,
catons rer uch
ie arf s ch,
oval
gover t rr e s r t e and esabls pr
n hei at t uc ur
t ih ocedur f or i a car i ' ser ce. See M Cl
es or derng
rer s vi
t
'
'
Tee o Cor v.Domi onCo
lc mm. p.
ni
mmc' Cop.98 F.Sup 1 1 ( D. Y.1 97) Taif
n r, 4
p. 85, 87 S. N. 9 . rfs
ha be de i da C se i l ofr t slons cfe tr ,ie wiht FCC a s jc
ve en fne s t sntaly fes o el pe iid ems fld t he
e
nd ube t
t modiiai ordia o b i. Ca
o
fc ton
spprval y t' hnman v.Sprn Cor ,1 F. 48 487(t Ci.
'
n
it p. 33 3d 4, 7h r
1 ) On Se e rl 20 NTELOS c nc r d i t eI
998 .
ptmbe 8, 02,
o ure n h CORE,l c. rf F. C. 2
n Ta if C. No.
ISCORE Ta if' fld wiht FCC f t pr son a d bilngofiss r ce .Sprnta l e
S
I
rf ) ie t he
or he ovii n li
t e vi s i leg s
t fom t tm e ofN TELOS'concur ence i t I
hat r he i
r
n he CORE Ta f untlN ovem ber2009,
rif i
N TELO S bil Sprnt and Sprntpai N TELO S,f l t ephone ser ces a a r t i e s
led i ,
i
d
or ocal el
vi t a e n xces
he posesoft sm oton, Sprntconcedest
hi
i
oft aut i by t I RE Tarf 2 Fort pur
hàt horzed he CO
if.
i
hat
f om 2002 t Oct
r
o ober31,2009,i or ed,wasbil and pai f l acces s ceson a per
t der
led
d or ocal
s ervi
mi t pe mieba i rfre t a Ta m Swic edTrns t(E '. Sprntnow ase t
nue r l ss eerd o s nde
th a por t
TST' 3 i
)
srs
t tt I
ha he CORE Ta ifp ec ude bilng a TST r t sa r q r t ti be c r d a l r ta
rf r l s li t
a e nd e uies ha t ha ge owe , l t
rt f d diae sr i r fre t asDie tTr e Trns t($ '.Sprntague t t
ae or e ctd e vce eerd o
rc unk d a por (
DTT'
) i r s ha
t pl n l
he ai anguage oft I
he CORE Tarifand applcaton oft fl r e docti 4r iet
f
i i
he ied at
rne equ r he
2Sprn c a mst tNTELOS o bil d Sprntf rl a a ce ss vi sfom t tme t I
i t l i ha
ver le
i o oc l c s er ce r he i he CORE Ta ifw a
rf s
ado e byNTELOS i 2002untl cobe 31 2009, rc z st tiscam f r undofove pa m e si
ptd
n
iO t r ,
but e ognie ha t li or ef
r y nt s
Im ie t ovt c r sas e s d wihi t yea sofflng t sa ton.
i t d o r ha ge s s e t n wo r ii hi c i
3Onbre a da or lagume , S i tdip e NTELOS'a s r i t ti o y or r d l ala ct s s vieson a
if n t a r
'
nt prn s ut d
s e ton ha t nl de e oc c s er c
TST ba i.Fort pur e oft smoi a isagume c e ni t fld rt d ti ,Sjrntha tke t
ss
he pos s hi ton nd t r nt onc r ng he ie ae ocrne i s a n he
p ii tath i o dee l la e ss r ie i ir e ntunde t fld rt d ti Thec tsopi o
oston h ow t r rd oca cc s e vc s s relva
r he ie ae ocrne.
our' nin
r fe t t is e a fa e by t pa te f t pu os soft smoton onl an d no r pr e a f ct
e l c s he s u s r m d he ri s or he m e hi
i
y, d oes t e es nt a ual
fn ng b t c ta t wha s r c Sprn a t ly or r d.
i di y he our s o
t e vies i t c ua l de e
4t'efldrt d crn p o ie t a t rfsfldwi t e(ne saeCo r eCo sin aelwf l o al
Ef i ae o tie r vd s h t a if i t h l trtt mmec mmiso ) r a u f r 1
-h e
e h
p r o e a dbidn wi t ef r eo lw u ls te(n esaeCo r eCo si n d ca e t etrf t b
u p s s n n ig t h o c f a n e s h l trtt mme c mmiso ) e lrs h aif o e
h
unlw f orunr as bl ' Bea h v.AtasV a Li l . Nos 2: 76 CW H,2: 7- 6l CW H ,
a ul
e ona e.
' c
l
n nes nc , . 07- 40 28 2002 W L
8 0 5 9 a * ( SC. a . , 0 8 ; e I r Cao i Mo o Ex rs . n .9 9F.d 1 7 1 9( t Ci. 9 )
6 2 3 , t 3 D. . M r 31 2 0 ) s e n e r l
na t t n e s l c, 4 2 0 , 0 4 h r 1 91
c r t grn ismoi f s mmar j me a a r ida ge .NTELOSc nt stat
ou to a t t ton 0r u
y udg nt nd wad t ma s
ou er h
Sprnt scl m i bar ed by N TELO S'2003 Chapt ll bankr cy or, aler i y,s d be
i ' ai s r
er
upt
t natvel houl
sa da r erdt t FCC und rt docrneofprmayj idito Ast t meisof
tye nd efre o he
e he ti
i r urs cin. o he rt
Spri ' cl m ,NTELO S cont
nt s ai
endst Sprntwasbil and pai f t l t ephone s vi
hat i
led
d or he ocal el
er ces
i or ed,and t Sprnti oblgat t pay f t e s vi
t der
hat i s i ed o
or hos er ces.
lI
.
NTELOSmove f s
s or ummayj me , r nga cam Spi ha r ae t
r udg ntagui ny li rnt d eltd o
N TELO S'bilng p a tc f l i a pto oft e I
li r c i es olow ng do i n h CORE Ta ifwa dic r d i N TELOS'
rf s s ha ge n
2003 Chapt llbankrupt y pr
er
c oceedi N TELOS as ert t Sprnt salega i i t scas
ng.
s s hat i ' l tons n hi e
sem f om N TELO S'f l e t s ich t DTT bilng upon adopton oft t ifon Sept ber
t r
aiur o w t o
li
i
he arf
em
t s al e
1 ,2 5 A c (r ng t NTELOS, hi f iur , w hi h o c r d pr o t t f lng ofN TELO S'
8 002. c )di o
c c ur e i r o he ii
bankr çy petton on M ar h 4,2003,gaverie t Sprnt scl m ,orrghtofpaym ent i
upt
ii
c
s o i ' ai
i
,n
bankrupt H ow ever Sprntf l t as er any s cl m i N TELOS'bankr c
cy.
, i aied o s t
uch ai n
upt y
pr
oceedi des t havi r ved w rten notce oft f lng oft bankr cy pe ii Thus,
ng, pie
ng ecei
it
i
he ii
he
upt
tton.
N TELO S ar ,any cl m Spri had w asdichar by vit oft confim aton oft
gues
ai
nt
s ged
rue he
r i
he
Cha er11 r gani i pl i August2003 and Sprnts caus ofacton f l as am aterof
pt
eor zaton an n
i '
e
i ais
t
1w 6
a
( i n Lo ivi e& Na h i eR. Co. . x l 2 7U.. 4 9 ( 91 ), e do o h rc o n ss bn m.
ct g us l
i
l
s v l R. v Ma wel 3 S 9 , 7 1 5 ) rv' n t e r u d u o
l
,
Retrv Co o r 5 7U. 2 2( 9 3 ;seas Am. l & Te . v Ce tOfieTe.l c, 2 U. 21 2 2
i . o e , 0 S. 5 1 9 ) e lo Te. lCo. . n . fc l n .5 4 S. 4, 2
e
.
(9 8 (j yn tete u ol ti drt d crn ' so itdwi te(nesaeCommec Acltrf
1 9 )a plig h ç nty- d fl ae o tie as cae t h ltrtt
c
e
h
re t aif
p o ii n '.t ,teCo n c to sAc)
r v so s o1h mmu lai n t.
'
;
'
. .
.
5 w ih r s c onl t t smoton, NTELOS doe notc e tSp i ' l ga t ol SeeN TELO S'M e I
t e pe t y o hi
i
s
onts rnts e l he '
y.
m. n
Supp t M ot f Sum m . . Dkt # 5l a 2 n. Thus t c t l a c tSprn ' a l tonsa t u f
or of . or
J , . , t 1.
, he our wil c ep i t s lega i s r e or
pur e oft sa l i.
pos s hi na yss
6Unde Fe r Rul ofCi lPr d e 5 ,tec utt al rn smmay u g n ite v n so ta tee
r de al e
vi oce ur 6 h o rçh ljat u r j d me tfh mo a th ws hth r
s
in g n iedsuea t a ymaeilat n temo a tse tldt jd me ta amatro lw. S eCeoe
s o e un ip t s o n tra fc a d h v n I nie o u g n s t fa ' e ltx
t
e
'
Co p. Car t, 7 U. 31 , 2 ( 98 ) Ne v nv C Co n, 4F.d2 4 2 6 3 ( t Ci. 9 5 .W h n
r v. tet4 7 S. 7 3 2 1 6 ; u e . NA r .4 3 3 , 3 - 7 4 h r 1 9 ) e
ma ngt sdeem i ton,hec ts ul c ierûhepe di ,de ii ,a wer t it rogao i ,a
ki hi tr nai t our ho d onsd t la ngs postons ns s o n er tres nd
t
a miso so 5l,o eh rwi . . a y afd vt'f e b t ep ris Ceo e , 7 U. . t 2 .W h te afc
d s in n e t g t e t . (n l fia i ' i d y h a t . ltx 4 7 S a 3 2 eh r a t
h
s l
e
Forispar ,Sprntar
t t i guest t r evantconducti notN TELO S'adopton oft
hat he el
s
i
he
I RE Tarf butr herN TELOS'r
CO
if
at
epeat bilng f l t ephone s vi ata r e i
ed li or ocal el
er ces
at n
e e soft a au h i d b t I
xc s
h t t orze y he CORE Ta if Sprntvi w se c bilco ai ng a ove c a ge
rf . i e a h l nt ni n r h r
asa sepa t actonabl vi a i oft t f ,and t ef e,a s at cl m . l is Second
ra e, i
e olton he arif
her or
epar e ai n t
Am e ed Co pl i , i a s rs i i e il d t ar f f o r ym e sm a f o J y
nd
m a nt Sprnt s e t t s ntte o e und or ve pa nt de r m ul
21,2007 t ough Oct
hr
ober3l,2009,wel aferN TELOS f l isbankr cy petton and t
l t
ied t
upt
ii
he
r o ga z to pl n wasc im e b t ba r t y co t Sprn a gue t e pos- n up c
e r ni a i n a
onfr d y he nk up c ur . i t r s hes
tba kr t y
cai ss vi ,r r e sofhow smia t y a et pr - nk up c cai t tma ha bee
l m ur ve egadls
i lr he r o e ba r t y l ms ha y ve n
dic r d. To hol ot r s Sp i ta s rs woul be t gi N TELOS a lc ns t c tnu t
s ha ge
d he wie, r n s e t ,
d o ve
i e e o on i e o
vi a e t l l aferisbankr cy pr
olt he aw ong t t
upt
oceedi concl
ngs
uded,whi defesbot l gal
ch i
he
pr
ecedentand com m on s e.
ens
A.
U ndert Bankr cy Code,t confr aton ofa r gani i pl di char t
he
upt
he
im i
eor zaton an s ges he
de trfo a de aii beor t daeofc nfr ton.11U. C.j11 ( ()A) A
bo rm ny bt rsng f e he t o imai
S.
41d)1( .
t bt'sd fnedasatibiiyonacam, 1lU. C.j1 ( 2 , ndad li 'i d fne a a
s 'i ei
de
ca lt
l
li '
'
S. 01 1 ) a i am' s ei d s
c
çi t pa ntwhehe o nots c rgh i rduc dt j
dghto yme , t r r u h i t s e e o udgme t lqui td,unlquiae
r
n,i dae
i d td,
fxed,contngent m at ed,unm at ed,di put undi put l ,equiabl s ed or
i
i
, ur
ur
s ed, s ed, egal
t e, ecur
unsc e .... 11U. C.j 1 ()A) Co esitnd dt sdefnii t b d sbr da
e urd '
'
S.
015( . ngrs ne e hi i ton o e i oa s
a
pos bl notng t (he bilcont pl est a1 l oblgatons oft debt ,no m aterhow
si e, i hat t
l
em at hat l egal i i
he
or
t
imaeil e e d o t rlv n sb tnielw,n tonydsue o e fcsh t g tafc teo to o
s tra d p n s n he ee at u sa t a a d t l l ip ts v r at ta mih feth uc me f
v
l
tes iu d rteg v rirlw wil r p r peld tee tyo smmayj d me t F cu l ip tsta ae
h ut n e h o enn a lpo el rcu e h nr f u r u g n. ata ds ue h t r
y
iee a t ru n csa w1l o b c u td' An es nv Liet Lo b .n .4 7U. 2 2 2 8(9 6.Th
r lv n o n e esy ln t e o ne . d ro . b r b v lc, 7 S. 4 , 4 1 s ) e
r
'
'
v
m o ng pa t be r t l ta bur n ofde
vi
ry a s he nii l de
monsr tng t a e e ofa ge ne i s ofm a e i lf c . Cel e 477
ta i he bs nc
nui s ue
t ra a t ot x,
U . a 323; a n,44 F. a 237 l t tbu de ha be n me , he no m ovi pa t mus t c ef a d
S. t
N uve
3d t . f ha r n s e t t
n- ng ry t hen om onv r
a etblhtese ii maeilat i dsuet s riesmmayjd me t Mas siaElc ld sCo v
nd sa i h p cfc tra fcs n ip t o uvv u r u g n. tuht e .n u . . .
s
Ze t RadoCor ,47 U. 5 58 8 ( 98 .H Ieaona ei e e e dr fom t evi nc mus be
nih i p. 5 S. 74, 6- 7 1 6) AIr s bl nfr nc s awn r he de e t
v e d i t el h mo t a o a l t t ep ryo p sn temo in'b tGa mees itl o e d n es p o t ga
iwe n h i t s fv r be o h a t p o i g h t , u () r cnil f vie c u p ri
g
o '
a
n
c s i i ufi e . Ne n,44F. a 237( i Srw v.Sr 1 F.d 791 798( hCi.1 4:.
a e s ns fcint' uve
'
3d t quotng ta
toud, 3 3 , 4t r 99
r e orcontngent w ilbe abl t be deal w ih i t bankr cy. l pe m ist br
emot
i
, l
eo
t t n he
upt
t r t be oades
t
pos i er lefi t ba u cycou t''Gr dyv. H. nsCo.l . 83 F. 1 ,20 ( h
sbl e i n he nkr pt
r.' a
A. Robi
. nc, 9 2d 98 0 4t
Ci. ( ii Igiltvehit r ofllU. C.j 1 4 , c f me l de i dt tr ç ai '
r) ctng e sa i so y
S.
014) whih or ry fne he e m t m,
cl '
n co fe i j1 ( 9,c r. nid,1 S.Ct201( 988.
ow diid n 015( etde e 09
. 1 )
l Gr t Fourt Cicui addr ed t isueofwhen a cl m arsesf pur
n adv, he
h r t
ess he s
ai i or posesof
b krpty.Grdyfldatr aci o Oco r1 ,1 5,algi s wa ij e b a
an u c
a ie o t ton n tbe 5 98 le ng he s nurd y n
i er erne contaceptve devi t D al Shi d,m anuf ur and m ar ed by def
nt ut i
r
i
ce, he kon el
act ed
ket
endant
.
l at 1
d. 99. D ef
endanthad f l f Chapt 1l bankr cy a f m ont earler on Augus 2l,
ied or
er
upt
ew
hs i ,
t
l985. Gr as t cour t fnd t hercl m di notar s prort t fii ift
ady ked he
t o i hat
ai d
i e i o he lng o he
ba r typeii a wa t rf en s jc t t a omai sa l ;sel1U. C.
nkupc tton nd s heeor ot ube t o he ut tc ty. d. e
S.
j36 a() Rel ngont rlva saelw,Grd ague t the c us ofa tondi no
2()1. yi
he ee nt tt a
a y r d ha r a e ci d t
a cueunis wa ij r a be a es wa ij e ahe t p tto wasfl ,t
c r tl he s nued, nd c us he s nurd r he eiin
ied he
a omai sa prvii i j3 di notba he s tfom pr e ui SherledonMatrof
ut tc ty o son n 62 d
r r ui r
os c ton.
ei
te
M . e vil Co.l ,74 F.d332( Ci.1 4) i whiht ThidCic thedt targh t
Frn le .nc. 4 2
3d r 98 ,n c he r rui l ha i to
paym entm us e s prort t flng ofabankr cy pe ii i or f a cl m t exitand
t xit i o he ii
upt
tton n der or ai o s
t tcourt m us l t s a e l t det m i w hen such a rghtt pa entars . Gr
ha
s
t ook o t t aw o er ne
i o ym
ies adv,839
F. a 200.
2d t
TheFo ' Cic trj tdpli ifsagu nta t ThidCicui' hol ngi
uth rui eece antf' r me nd he r r ts di n
t
Fr le. 839 F .2d at201- The cour hel t S he bankr cy Code i s i
envil ?
02.
t d hat '
t
upt
s upermposed upon
t l oft St e,'and cours s d l t t Bankr cy Code,r hert sat l ,t
he aw
he at '
t houl ook o he
upt
at han t e aw o
1l a dt nt teFo r Ci utteF evl a po c h sb e t nv ral rjce 'b i sse crut.l r
n d io o h ut r i h rn il p rah a e n < iesl eetd' y t itr i i n e
i
h c ,
e
u
y
s
c s
An rws 2 9F.d7 8 7 0n. ( t Ci. 0 ) s e ea, nr Pak r 3 3F.d 1 6 , 2 9( 0 hCi. 0 2 ; nr
d e , 3 3 0 , 1 7 5h r 2 01; e a ..l e r e , 1 3 2 7 1 6 1 t r 2 0 ) l e
J srm, 3F.d4 8 4 2( t Ci. 0 ) Ep t i v. fca Co o Un e u e Crd tr , 8F.d 1 7 ,1 7
a te 25 3 3 , 4 9h r 2 01 ; sen Ofiil- mm. f s c r d e i s 5 3 5 3 5 6
o
n2( 1h Ci. 9 5 .l d e , e v l wa ltro er ldb t eThr Ci u t nt ec s o I r Gr s ma ' I c,
. 1 t r 1 9 ) n e d Frn il s ae v ru e y h id r i i h a e f n e o s n s n .
e
c
6 7F.d 1 4( dCi. 01 )
0 3 1 3 r2 0.
de e m i w he a c ai ars s I a 2 W i r s c t t d f nii ofS a m ' i t
t r ne
n l m i e . d. t 02. t e pe t o he e i ton ' i ' n he
h
cl
Bankr cy Code,t courtf
upt
he
ound t tCongr scont pl ed çt br
ha
es
em at the oades possi er i ,''
t
bl elef
i endi dt aI l oblgatonsoft debt ,no materhow r
nt ng dhat l egal i i
he
or
t
emot orcontngent w ilbe
e
i
l
,
abl t bedeal w ih i bankr cy.' 1 The Fourh Cicui w enton t hol
eo
t t n
upt ' d.
t r t
o d:
W e do not beleve t t t e m us be a rght t t i m edi e
i
ha her
t
i
o he m
at
paym entofm one i t cas ofa t torali br
y n he e
or
led each ofwar ant
r y
orlk c ai ,a pr e he e whe t ac s c ns iu i t t tor
i e l m s es nt r , n he t o tt tng he or
b e c o warny h v o c re p ir otefl go t ep t in
ra h f ra t a e c urd ro t h ii f h eio ,
n
t
t c tt eacll unde j3 a( ) ...Conges ha ce e a
o onsiut am
r 62()1.
r s s ratd
contngent rght t paym ent as i has t power t cr e a
i
i
o
t
he
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W e ar ofopi on t i hasdone s
e
ni hat t
o.
l a 203.Thus,t courtf
d. t
he
ound t Gr scl m ar e att tm e t Dal Shi d w as
hat ady' ai os he i he kon el
i rt whi occur ed prort t flng oft bankr cy petton,and t Gr s cl m
nse ed, ch
r
i o he ii
he
upt
ii
hat ady' ai
wast rfr s j c t t a omai sa Thea al i us db t Fo t Cic ti Grd t
heeoe ube to he ut tc ty.
n yss e y he urh rui n a v o
det m i when a bankr cy cl m ars i known ast Sconductt t'
er ne
upt ai ies s
he t
es .'
A lhough t Gr courtexpr l lm ied ishol ng t t cont oft aut
t
he ady
essy i t t di o he
ext he omatc
i
r h r ui pple he a e s ni nd di n
c
say, t e Fou t Cic ta i d t s m e r a o ng a hol ng i H ol om be v. U . A iwavs
t Fh
S. r
.
l ,36 F. p' 42 c r. ni l S. .343( 0)ac ebrughtunde t Ameia
nc. 9 Ap x 4, e tde ed, 31 Ct
201 , as o
r he rc ns
w ih D iabiii A ct i whi t courtconsder w he herpl ntf sdi crm i i cl m had
t s ltes , n
ch he
i ed
t
ai if' s i nàton ai
been di char i bankr cy. l Hol be,pl ntf aleged t s w asdeni
s ged n
upt
n com
ai if l
hat he
ed
accom m odatonsf herm edi condii begi ng Ja y 2002,and s fl grevancesasa
i or
cal
ton
nni nuar
he ied i
rs ti Febuaya M ac 20 J .t426.OnAugus 11 2002, S. r ysa is
eul n r r nd rh 02. . a
i
t ,
U. Aiwa nd t
af ii esf l f r i underChapt 11oft Bankr c Code. 1 at427. A r gani i
flat ied or elef
er
he
upt y
d.
eor zaton
8t e e
t mphasz ,asdi t diti tc t t tw edo no d i e whe he orno M r .Gr dy' c a m ort eoft
w
ie
d he sr c our, ha
t ec d
t r
t s a s li
hos he
Fu ur Tor Cl i t ar dic r a e i t sca e. ..W ehol onl t tt Da kon Shi l cl m i t c e
t e t a man s e s ha ge bl n hi s .
d y ha he l
e d ai n he as
b or u , h t Dal Shi d wasi e td i t c am a tprort t tm eofflng oft pe ii c tt t sa
ef e s w en he kon el
ns re n he l i n i o he i
ii
he tton, ons iu e
çli ' ta ao eb f r t ec mme c me t ftec s ' t i teme nn o 1 U.. j3 2 a( )' Gr d , 3
cam t t r s e o e h o n e n o h a e wi n h a ig f 1 SC. 6 ( )l . a v 8 9
h
h
'
F. d a 2
3 t 03.
6
pl w asconfr ed on M ar 18,2003. Hol
an
im
ch
combe f l sui i Sept ber2003. One yearl er
ied t n
em
at ,
U . A iwaysfl a s
S. r
ied econd pe ii f bankrupt r i unde Chapt l1. A lhough
tton or
cy elef
r
er
t
Hol be di notf l apr ofcl m i t fr tbankr cy cas she di t e a pr ofcl m
com
d
ie oof
ai n he is
upt
e,
d 5l
oof
ai
i t sc c s U. Aiwa obe t t t cam a mo df s
n he e ond ae. S. r ys jced o he li nd ve or ummayj me t The
r udg n .
bankr cy courtgr ed t moton,fndi pl ntf scl m w as bared by t dichar i t
upt
ant he
i i ng ai if' ai
r
he s ge n he
fr tbankr cy cas
is
upt
e.The dit i cour af imed. I
s rct
t fr
d.
On a
ppeal t Fourh Cicui hel t Hol
, he
t r t d hat combe had a cl m asofM ar l8,2003 and
ai
ch
t hercl m w aspr l dichar as oft tdat d.at427- Em pl ng t conductt t
hat
ai
opery s ged
ha e.I
28.
oyi he
es
setf h i Gr
ort n adv,t cour f
he
t ound t al oft i porantevent gi ng rse t Hol be'
hat l he m t
s vi i o com s
r onabl accom m odaton cl m occur ed prort t confr aton oft r gani i pl
eas
e
i ai
r
i o he
im i
he eor zaton an.
3 F. xa 4 Thec r rj ce Holombesag ntt the cli i aûc ntnui
69 App' t 28.
ou tee td c ' rume ha r am s to i ng
vi aton,'one t ûaccr pr confr aton and hasper i t i o t pos - im aton
ol i '
hat d ued e- im i
s sed nt he tconfr i
peri ' l at429. l
od.' d.
mporanty f pur esoft i t cas i hel t w hie hercl m as
t l or pos
he ns ant e, t d hat l
ai
t pr confr aton dicrm i or ac i di nots vet 2003 di
o e- im i s i nat y tons d
urvi he
schar any cl m sarsng
ge,
ai
ii
f om alegedl di crm i or act com m it by def
r
l
y s i nat y s
ted
endantpos - im a i wer not
t confr ton e
dich r ç a rmai dope f adu cai 9 I . 428,
s a g d nd e ne n or j di ton. d at 429
.
W ih t sf am ew or i m i t courtt nst t i ue ofw he herSprnthasa cl m
t hi r
k n nd, he
ur o he ss
t
i
ai
t tar pri t t confr aton oft Chapt 11 r
ha ose or o he
im i
he
er eorgani ton pl and w ast ef e
za i
an
her or
dichar i bankr cy.
s ged n
upt
9Be a eGr d de l s ey w ih t a ia lt oft a t tc sa t r e td e f de e ni whe he a
c us a v a t ol l t he pplc biiy he u oma i t y, he elvan at or t nni ng t r
cam e sedwa t d t oft ba u c peiin.I Holombe,heis wa dic r biiy, ot r e nt
li xit
s he a e he nkrpty tto n c
t sue s s hagea l s he elva
t
d t wa tedt o tec nimaino ttroj nzt npa .Id e ,h Ba ku tfCo ese iish th
ae s h ae fh o f to fh e ra iai ln n ed te n r pc d p cfe ta te
r
o
c imai daei t r lva daefrdee ml ngwheheracam hasbe ndic r
onfr ton t s he ee nt t o tr ni
t
li
e s haged.11U. C.
S.
j1 4 () 1( . l tei sa tc s , h alg t n r ie i t eS c n Ame d dCo an se fo
1 1 d ()A) n h n tn a e te l ai s as d n h e o d n e mpli t tm r m
.
e o
ove c ge a s s ed be we n 200 a 200 we la t rbot t ba u c pe ii n wa fl d an t
r har s s e s
t e
7 nd 9, l fe h he nkr pty tto s ie d he
r ga za i pl n c im e
eor ni tpn a onfr d.
B.
Pur uantt t Fourh Cicui' conductt t a cl m ars when t conductgi ng rs
s
o he
t r ts
es , ai ies
he
vi ie
d
t he hl
s'
n
t t aleged labiiy occur ed.0 concor w es oft A s ev Hom eow ner Ass' v. J. .
o he l
i lt
r 1
A
J ne ,I , 3: c 001 2o s nc.No. 09-v- 8 GCM , 0W L 1 2,a *1( . N. J n.1 201
201
4843 t W D. C. a 2, 0)
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( tn I r Pi rAicaf Cor ,58F. 1 73,1 ( 1hCi.1 )(ii Gr dy,839 F.
quoig n e pe r r t p.
3d 5 577 1 t r 995 ctng a
-
a 1 ).I or rt deemi whehe S i ' cli ao ep e o pos- nkrpty,hec r
t 99) n de o tr ne t r prnts am rs r - r tba u c t ou t
m us de e m i wha c uc ga rs t N TELOS'la lt
t t r ne
t ond t ve ie o
i biiy.
The Com m uni i Actr r N TELOS t fl w ih t FCC and keep open f
catons
equies
o ie t he
or
publc i pecton ls
i ns i tchedul s i a1 char f is fand is connectng car i sf
es how ng 1 ges or t el
t
i
rer or
i esaea fr g wito r oc
ntrtt nd oein r r adi ommu ctongl'whihaeknowna trfs 47U. C.
niai s, c r
'
s aif.
S.
j20 a.NTELOSi la ei ichage ,d ma ,c lcsorrc ve aû e tro l sor
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s ibl f t r s e nds ole t e ei s t ae r es
gr
difrn c ensto 'ha t tstf t i t a plc bl trf onfl 47U. C.j203c.
fee t omp ain't n ha e orh n he p ia e a if ie.
S.
()
On Sept ber 18,2002, TELOS concur ed i t I
em
N
r n he CORE Tarif w hih,accor ng t Sprnt
f. c
di o i ,
prvieso yf bilnga fa DTT rt .Pl' Se ndAm.Compl,Dkt#67, t! 1 1 1
o d nl or li t lt
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. .
a ! 1, 5, 7,
27. Sprntalegest tbe ween 2002 and 2009 N TELO S bil Sprntathi ,us bas
i l
ha t
led i
gher age- ed
TST rtsi vi ai o t I
ae n olton f he CORE Taif Se ton6.. A)2 .P1' Sec ndAm. mpl, .
rf, ci 13( () .s o
Co .Dkt
#67, t! l 26,28- Sprnta srsta t sbilngpa tc ha rs tdi monhl
a ! 6,
30. i se t h t hi li rcie s eule n t y
over ges,and each oft e over gesgi rs t a se at cl m agai tN TELOS.
char
hes
char
ves ie o par e ai
ns
W hie cl m st over gesass ed pri t confr aton oft r gani i pl m ay have
l ai o
char
ess
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im i
he eor zaton an
:Ha n rjce t % cra ts'at uae i Fe vl , s crut h vea o tdete tec n utts o
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a
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e
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h
wha ha be nr fre t a t i e tto rltons pts. Se ec.l r PierA icrf Cor ,58F. 15
t s e ee rd o s he ç peiin eai hi e t' e. . ,n e o
pr
'
r a t p.
3d 73
(1hCi. 9 5 (d pigasihl mo iidv rino tepe eio rlt nsi ts) Th cu t oe ta a
1t r 1 9 ) ao tn lg t dfe eso fh rp tin eai hp et. e o r n ts h t t
y
t
o
lato edsrc c ut ti teFo rhCi ut a a pidwhta p ast b at it rp tt nrlto si a d
e s n itit o rwi n h ut r ih s p l
h
c
e a p e r o e jon pe eii eainhp n
o
c uc t s r me,' i ng t pr pe ii t s t bea t e hol i r t ta l f a yss u rt e c du t
ond t e t egi ' fndi he e tton e t o
hr s d nquiy ha lows or nal i nde h on c
t t Co or W e toft As e H o e
es. nc d s he hl v m owne ' A s n v.JA. one . nc,No.3; c 001 GCM ,201 W L
rs s' . J s l .
09- v- 820
1 8 3 , t* - , n. ( . N. J n 1 , 01 ) I t i sa t a e t ec u t e dn t e iewb te t a py a
4 4 2 a 2 3 3 3 W D. C. a . 2 2 0 . n he n tn c s, h o r n e o d cd eh r o p l
src co tts orahybrd prpeii r ltons p/c uc t tasdi t c ti Conc dW et Sp i a
tit nduc e t
i e tton eai hi ond t es
d he our n
or
s. rnt nd
NT
ELOSyanyh dape eio rlt n hp.Se PlsSeo dAm. mp .Dk. 6 , t 2 T u ,h cu t
lil a rptt n eai s i e . c n
i
o
'
Co l, t# 7 a ! 4. h ste o r'
s
a l i wll o s el on t c c t s .
na yss l f cus ol y he ondu t e t
8
be dic a g d(ndc rai ot r peha bardbyt saut o lmiains sen e2,
en s h r e a et n hes r ps re
he tt e f i tto , e ot
s a ,Sprnta s rsiscai t r f f t n ry$4 milo i ove pa men sma
upr) i s e t t l ms o e unds or he ea l
li n n r y t de
bet
ween J y 21,2007 and O c ober31,2009 s vi bankrupt The cour agr
ul
t
ur ve
cy.
t ees.
TheBa r c Codedei sat ai 'a adi tt pa nt' 11U. C.j1 ()A)
nkupty
fne t m' s t gh o yme .
cl
r
'
S. 015( .
Sprnthasno ri t paym entunl and untli i over rged by N TELO S i vi aton oft
i
ght o
ess
i ts
cha
n ol i
he
applcabl t if. UntlSprntr vesa bilf om NTELOS,i doesnotknow whet i has
i e arf
i i ecei
l r
t
her t
been charged corecty ori r l undert t if Spri ' rghtt r
r l
ncorecty
he arf .
nt s i o epaym entf
or
over har as ed by N TELO S be ween J y 2007 and O c ober2009 ar e att tme Sprnt
c ges sess
t
ul
t
os he i
i
wa bil d f s vi sr nde e du i t tpe i
s le or er ce e r d r ng ha rod.
N TELO S ar
guesSprntknew ors d have known as eary as2002 t N TELO S w as
i
houl
l
hat
bilng Sprnti r l and t t conductwoul contnue.N TELO S cont
li
i ncor ecty
hat he
d
i
endst is
hat t
conducts d have been f es
houl
or eeabl s
e, uggestng t cl m sw er par ofa contnui cour e of
i he ai
e t
i ng
s
conduc da i back pr bankr cy t 2002,when i fr tf l t swich Sprntt DTT r t
t tng
eupt o
t i s aied o t
i o
a es
aferadoptop oft I RE Tarf ,and contnui t ough 2009. Si iarar ent wer m ade
t
i
he CO
if
i ng hr
m l gum s e
a rj tdi bot Hoco ea O' hlnv. unt o Orn/e.Hol mbe, F. xa
nd eçqe n h l mb nd Log i Co v f a
co
369 App' t
4 n. 42 (ee tngHolombest or t the ADA cai wa asngl,uniayt o i ng
28 2, 9 rjci
c
' he y ha r
l m s i e tr ç ntnui
c
vi ai 'cai ta a cue p eco imai a pesse i ot pos-onfnmai p ro ;
olton' l m h t c r d r - nfr ton nd ritd nt he tc i ton e idl
O'
Lozhlnv. t ofOrnze 229F. 8 ,8 4- (t Ci. )(e rigdititc r'
i Cnv. a ,
3d 71 7 75 9h r2000 rvesn src ou ts
hol ng t second and t r deni sofaccom m oda i w er çi t e consequence'oft
di hat
hid
al
ton e tneviabl
' he
fr tdeni ,r hert actonabl contnui vi atonsoft A DA ,and hol ng count labl
is
al at han i
e
i ng ol i
he
di
yi e
f pos- shagec uc t tvi ae t saue.
or tdic r ond t ha oltd he ttt)
Even i Sprnts d have known i 2002 t N TELOS w asbilng i r l i does
f i houl
n
hat
li ncorecty, t
.
notchange t f t ,undert Banknz cy Code,Sprnthasa separ t rghtt paym entever
he act hat
he
pt
i
ae i o
y
9
tm eN TELO S bil Sprnti contaventon oft t if The f t tSprntdi notnotce i was
i
ls i n
r
i
he arf .
act ha
i d
i t
bei over ged untl2009 i i
ng
char
i
s nappost f pur es oft s anal s 1
ie or pos
hi
ysi. 1
W hie t cour r
l he
t ecogni t ques i ofw hen a caus ofacton accr f pur es
zes hat
tons
e
i
ues or pos
ofbankr cy and w hen t s a ut oflm iatonsbegi t r ar d wo s at and ditnct
upt
he t t e i t i
ns o un e s
t epar e
si
is same a veydifrntprblms'l r Swit 1 F. 7 79 (t Ci.1 ) ii
sue i d t r fee o e r'n e f 29 3d 92, 6 5h r 997,ts
worh exam i ng how cours a r at y agenci have teat t i ue ofover gesi t
t
ni
t nd egul or
es
r ed he ss
char n he
s a ut oflm iatons cont
tt e i t i
ext. l det m i ng when a sat e oflm iatons begi ,court have
n er ni
t ut
i ti
ns
s
teat t dut t m ake m ont y paym ent f t ecom m uni tons s vi lke an i t l
r ed he y o
hl
s or el
ca i
er ces i
nsalment
contactand hel t a s at caus ofacton ars on t dat each paym enti m ised,even
r
d hat epar e
e
i
ies he e
s s
i t e i t l ent s em f om a ser ces agr entbet
f hos ns alm s t r
vi
eem
ween t partes. See M FS I ',l v.
he
i
nt l nc.
ltlTec Lt ,50F.Sup 2d51 52 25( D. 1 )(ii MClTel omm. r v.
n ' lom d.
p.
7, 4- E. Va. 999 ctng
ec
Co p.
Tee o e s l , F. 1 6(dCi.1 95 TheFCC t asmia a pr c t ac s
lc nc pt.nc.71 3d 08 3 r 9 :.
ook i lr p oa h o ae
i vi over ges,Tel val i l v.Am eri Tel
nvol ng
char
e- uaton. nc.
can ephone & Tel aph Co. 73
ear
,
F. C. 450( 979 .I Tee- l ton, anifwa hie a at e ommuniai c ns tn
C. Zd
1 ) n l vauai plitf s rd s elc
c tons o ula t
by W ison Fr ghtCo.I t cour oft em pl ent Tel v al i uncover m i t
l
ei
n he
se hat
oym , e- uaton
ed sakes i
n
1An se n ij siet tma rslfo alwigS rn t po edwi ti c ueo a t natrfin t
1 y emig nutc ha y eut rm lo n pito rc e t hs a s f ci f al g o
h
o e i
n i et s m ont y ove cha ge f s ve yea si ofs tby t f ctt t a be t Sprntwilonl beabl t r c r
otc he e
hl
r r s or e n r s f e he a ha , t s , i l y
e o e ove
da esse m i fom ove c r a s s e b t n J y 2007 a Ocobe 2009,a a cai si ha t r f
mag t m ng r
r ha ges s e s d e wee ul
nd t r
s ny l m t s o e unds
f ovepa
or r yment m a afe c fr ai ofteror a z tonpln b prort 2007a eba rdbyt saueof
s de tr onim ton h e g niai a ut i o
r re
he ttt
l tt n .Th FCC atyn tdi Teevau to Ic v Am. l& Te. , 3F. C.d4 0 4 2(9 9 ,ht
i ai s e
mi o
pl oe n l- lain.n . . Te. lCo.7 C. Z 5 , 5 1 7 )ta
a t poi a c t m e r evesisbilf s r ce , hecuso e :
t he nt us o r ec i t l or e vi s t
tm r
m a r vi w t e c r s c pa e t e wih t a op i t t r fs que ton t
y e e h ha ge , om r h m t he ppr r ae a if , s i he
ca re ,or t ke a ot r se nec s a y t de e and r m e y e r s Thi
r ir
a ny he t ps e s r o t ct
e d ror .
s
pl c a bu de of pr
a es
r n
ompt de e ton of o r ha ges on t pa t wih t
tci
ve c r
he ry t he
gr t s i en i t d s a pe lze diaor de e ton,t r by gua di
ea e t nc tve o o o nd na i s l t y t c i he e
r ng
agans lt a t s t r c r f sal cl m s Thr
i t a er tempt o e ove or t e ai .
ough t e c s o
he xer ie f
dii ce t c t m e ma pr ve tl s he t r f e i hel kno l gea e a
lgen he us o r y e n os ; he e or s d w ed bl t
t tme he i no ii d ofhi c g .
he i
s tfe
s har es
S rn' fi r t c rfl ise tt bl l t isd ma e cam i ti c s t j so rwoy aso
pits al e o aeul np c is is i s t a g s li n hs ae o ut ve t e r f
u
y
l mi
ove cha ge .
r r s
10
t bil i r ved fom AT& T f isl ed prvat lne net k,som e ofwhi dat back
he ls t ecei r
or t eas
i ei
wor
ch ed
o rade a .AT&T r f edonl $ 000oft $1 70 Tee- ua in cai dwa owe
ve
c de
e und
y 3,
he 7, 0 l val to l me s d,
argui t r
ng he emai ng cl m s had been extnguihed asa m aterofl by t r ng oft
ni ai
i s
t
aw
he unni
he
saueo lmiai a s tf t i 47U. C. 41 c .l TheFCC hedt twhiet
ttt f i ttons s e orh n
S. j 5() d.
l ha l he
Com m uni i Actis fdoes notdefne t poi ofaccr ofa caus ofacton:
catons
t el
i he nt
ual
e
i
(1 t a l usc s o a a ton frda ge ,t poith
In he naogo ae f n ci o ma s he n as
been det m i t be w hen t car i does t unl ul act or
er ned o
he rer
he awf
f l t do w hati r r W e beleve t sam e r i e gover
ais o
s equied.
i he
atonal
ns
i t e c e of o r ha ge a t t a a g ne alpr poston,t
n h as
ve c r s nd ha , s e r
o ii he
poi ofaccr shoul be fxed ast tme t cusom err vesa
nt
ual
d
i
he i he t
ecei
bilf s vi
l or er ces.
1 a 452.Thus,t FCC f
d. t
he
ound t tt sat e oflm ia i i ef ectatt tm e each pari ar
ha he t ut
i t tons n f
he i
tcul
bilw asr
l
ender gover pl ntf scl m s. 1 at453.
ed
ned ai if' ai
d.
A lhough t sat e of lm iatons isue i ditnctf om t one c r l bef et
t
he t ut
i t i s s s i r he
ur enty or he
cour- nam el when Spr nt scl m saccr f pur esofbankr cy- t ans ert bot
t
y,
i ' ai
ued or pos
upt
he w o h
ques i happe t bet s e i t scas The courtf ndsno r
tons
ns o he am n hi e.
i
eason t teatover ges
or
char
dif enty f pur es oft sanal s.Sprnt srghtt paym ent iscl m asdefned i t
fer l or pos
hi
ysi
i' i o
, t ai
i n he
Bankr cy Code,ar e each tm e i wasbil f se cesr
upt
os
i t
led or rvi ender ata r t i cpnt a i of
ed
ae n
r venton
t trf a d i vi ai of47U. C.j203() Th ecamst taos pr- nkr tyh ve
he aif n n olton
S.
c . os li ha r e eba upc a
been di
schar t e t ar posged; hos hat ose t bankrupt r ai vi e.
cy em n abl
N TELO S ar
guest t ac gi ng rset islabiiy was nott re i oft bilbut
hat he t vi i o t i lt
he nderng he l
t f l e t s ich Sprntt D TT bilng upon adopton oft I
he aiur o w t
i o
li
i
he CORE Tarf i 2002- an ac
if n
t
w hi undoubt y occur ed pr bankr cy.N TELO S poi st t expansi defnii of
ch
edl
r
eupt
nt o he
ve i ton
Scl m ' i t Bankr cy Code and t t courtshol ng i G r t t fr tconductgi ng
s ai ' n he
upt
o he
' di n adv hat he is
vi
r s t acl m es abls whet i ar e pr orpos - tton,ir pectve ofany pos - ii
i e o ai t i hes
her t os et pe ii r es i
tpetton
ij rest tmi se fo t tc nduc.NTELOS'h or oftec ei t tisfiuet
n ui ha ght tm r m ha o t
te y h as s ha t alr o
11
s ich Sprntt DTT bilng i 2002 i t fr tconductand t r uli m ont y over ges
wt
i o
li n
s he is
he es tng
hl
char
aesmpl t ij i se ngfom t tc uc.
r i y he nures tmmi r ha ond t
D es t N TELO S'r i
pie
elance on Gr
adv,t i t case i f ualy ditngui habl G r
he nsant
s act l s i s e. adv
i ved a t tcl m ,and i w ascl t t actgi ng rie t labiiy t i erton oft
nvol
or ai
t
ear hat he
vi s o i lt he ns i
he
Dal Shi d- occur ed pr petton. The i ue i Gr was i f ,whet pl ntf ' cl m
kon el
r
e- ii
ss n ady
, n act
her ai ifs ai
f pur esofbankr cy ar w hen t ac gi ng rs t labiiy wasper onned orw heheri
or pos
upt ose
he t vi ie o i lt
f
t t
ar e w hen t hann caused by t e act m anies ed. Gr ar
os
he
hos s
f t
ady gued s coul nctha s
he
d l ve ued
dee n untls kne t naur ofhe ij is be a et r e n saelw h dac us of
fnda t i he w he t e
r nure , c us he elva t tt a el a e
a to di n ac r u it tpoi .83 F. a 2 ln. TheFourhCic trj ce t t
cin d ot cue ntlha nt 9 2d t 0 4.
t rui ee td ha
a
rgum ent hol ng t Bankr cy Code,r hert sat l w ,di at w hen acl m arses.
, di he
upt
at han t e a
ct es
ai i
Her t i sue i di put i t actonabl conductis f w ha ga rs t NTELOS'
e, he s n s e s he i
e
t elt ve ie o
labiiy? The ans eri N TELOS'bilng ata r t dif r t t s f t i t t if See
i lt
w s
li
a e f e ent han hat et orh n he arf .
47U. C.j203c.NTELOSbildSp itf sl c srndee a t TST rt,rt rt nt
S.
()
le rn or ewie e rd the
ae ahe ha he
DTT r e Spri as t i r r undert t if on a mont y basi bet een 2002 a 2009.
at
nt sers s equied
he arf ,
hl
s w
nd
The a opton oft I
d i
he CORE Ta ifdi no t i e N TELO S'ale d la lt isf iur t bil
r f d t rgg r
l ge i biiy; t a l e o l
Sprntata r e i accor
i
at n
dance w ih t t f di
t hat arif d.
UnlkeGrdv,hi i no ac s wh epos- nkrptyij isnaurlytowe fom
i a t s s t a e er tba u c nure t al l d r
pr bankr c conduct I t separ e vi atonsoft Com m uni i A ctoccur ed bot
eupt y
. nsead,
at ol i
he
catons
r
h
pr and posetbankr cy,gi ng rs t se a e cl m s. As t cas 1 m akescl ,t e
upt
vi ie o par t ai
he e aw
ear hos
cl m ss em m i fr pos ai t
ng om
tbankr cy vi atons s ve,r dl s ofw het t ar sm iar
upt ol i urvi egar es
her hey e i l
t t pr- nkr tycai .Se Holo
o he eba upc l ms e c mbe, 9F. xa 42829( di a ale dl
36 App' t - hol ng ny lge y
di i i or act t occured afert r gani ton pl w asconfr ed wer not
scrm nat y s hat
r
t he eor za i
an
im
e
dic r edi ba r c a r mai d vibl cai s;O' hln, F. a 87 75( di
s ha g n nk upty nd e ne a e l m ) Loc i 229 3d t 4- hol ng
1
2
t co y labl f pos- s ha ge vi a i oft e A DA de pie t f c t tsm ia pr he unt i e or tdi c r
ol tons h
s t he a t ha i lr e
dic r vi a i we eno vibl)
s ha ge oltons r t a e .
Consde t c eofl r Rosnfl 2 F. 8 ( hCi.s r.de e 11 S.Ct200
i r he as n e e ed, 3 3d 33 4t rlcet nid, 5
. ,
rh' de e 11 S. . 2 (994 .Rosnfl a quie s rso Ri rPl eEatHousng
e a nid, 5 Ct62 1 )
e ed c rd hae f ve ac s
i
Cor aton,a housi cooper i ass aton,asw el asa poss or i er i aR i Pl
por i
ng
atve oci i
l
ess y nt est n
ver ace
a rme ,i 1 3.J a 8 A c na tr ni wiht lndrquie o r t pa
pa t nt n 98 - t 35. ove n un ng t he a e rd wnes o y
Z
ass aton dues;as sm ent w er m ade annualy and each ow nerw asr r t pay oneoci i
ses
s e
l
equied o
t elt ofhi a
w fh
s nnualas m enteach m ont oft fs year. Ros el ceas pa ng hi
sess
h he ical
enf d
ed yi s
dues. He fied f Chapt 7 bankr c pr ecton i Oct
l or
er
upt y ot i n ober 1 and i Febr y 1991w as
990
n
uar
gr ntd adic r ,whih i ud $ 3 i pr - tto a s s me ofRi rPlc due .
a e
s ha ge c ncl ed 2,00 n e peiin s e s nt
ve a e s
Ri Pl t i tt ed a s
ver ace hen ns iut
epara e s a e cour pr
t tt
t oceedi agai tRos el s ng duesf om
ng
ns
enf d eeki
r
N ovem ber 1,1990 t ough Aprl30,1992. Ros el fl am oton f cont pti bankr cy
hr
i
enf d ied
i or
em n
upt
court ar ng hi dichar extngui hed any labiiy f bot pre- ii and pos- tton
, gui
s s ge i s
i lt or h
petton
t pe ii
cooper i as sm ent l
atve ses
s. d.
The bankr c courti Ros el hel t t ac gi ng rset R i Pl sri t
upt y
n
enf d d hat he t vi i o ver ace' ght o
paym entw asRos el scont actt pur e hi cooper i i er ti 1983. A ss t
enf d'
r o chas s
atve nt es n
uch, he
bankr cy courtconsder t debtt bepr petton and hel i w asdi
upt
i ed he
o
e- ii
dt
schar even t
ged,
hough
som eoft duespaym ent w er notow ed untlt perod f l i t flng oft petton.
he
s e
i he i olow ng he ii
he ii
l at836. The diti cour,however r s t deci on oft bankr cy cour,fi ng t
d.
sr ct
t
, ever ed he
si
he
upt
t ndi he
pos - ii as m ent w er notdichar
tpetton sess
s e
s ged. The Fourh Cicui af im ed.
t r t fr
TheFourhCic trc z dt ttgjeq sinofwhehe aba uptydic age
t rui e ognie ha ith ueto
t r nkr c s h r
encom pass pos - ii as s ent hasbeen addr s i t cont ofcondom i um
es t petton ses m s
es ed n he
ext
ni
as oci i and hom eow ne ass aton duesw ih i
s aton
rs' oci i
t nconsit r t ' I Thç Fourh Cicui
sent esuls.' d.
t r t
declned t f l a lne ofcas hol ng t an ass aton' rghtt paym entofduesarses
i o olow i
es di hat
oci i s i o
i
w hen t contacti m ade and i contngenton t debt ' contnued owner hi oft pr t
he
r s
s
i
he
or s
i
s p he opery.
1 l ead,t Fourh Cicui lke t dit i courtbel ,r i on a lne ofcaseshol ng t
d. nst
he
t r t, i he s rct
ow eled
i
di hat
an as ociton' cl m f pos - ii duesdoesnotar s untlt duesar ass s l at837.
s a i s ai or tpetton
i e i he
e es ed. d.
TheFourt Cicui f
h r t ound t tRos el s oblgaton t pay t as sm ent a e fom hi
hat ç enf d' i i o
he ses
s ros r
s
:
.
contnued pos- ii ow ner hi oft pr rt and notf om a pr petton cont ac ual
i
tpetton
s p he ope y
r
e- ii
r t
oblga i ... Ri Pl srghtt paym entf pos - ii as s ent di notars pr
i ton.
ver ace' i o
or tpetton ses m s d
ie epe ii and w asnotextngui
tton
i shed by Ros el sbankr cy di
enf d'
upt schar ' I The Fourh Cicui
ge.' d.
t r t
s fcaly not t ishol ng i Gr di notr r a contar r ul:
pecii l ed hat t di n adv d
equie
r y es t
M rs Gr s cl m aleged a t tand ar f om t i eri of
. ady' ai l
or
ose r he ns ton
t D al
he
kon Shi d, whi occured pr petton. Ri Pl s
el
ch
r
e- ii
ver ace'
cl m i f ass m ent t cover expens i
ai s or ess
s o
es ncun- durng
ed
i
Ros el spos - tton owner p ofr pr t Gr deal
enf d'
t pe ii
shi
eal opery. adv
s
w ih a cl m ar sng f om a pre- ii t t whie t s case
t
ai
ii r
petton or,
l hi
i vesa br
nvol
each ofa covenantr ng w ih t l t occur ed
unni
t he and hat
r
pps - ii and we fnd Gr i cl l ditngui habl
t petton,
i
adv s eary s i s e.
l
d
Thedititc ti Zete v. rel25 B. l 2( D. C.l 99)rj ce a
src our n ilr Ma t , 5 R. 7 E. N. 9 ,ee td n
ar entsi iart t one advanced by pl ntf i Ros el The pari i Zeil di ced
gum
m l o he
ai if n enf d.
tes n ter vor
i l a purs
n 983 nd
uantt t di ol i decr Zeil was oblgat t pa M arela porton of
o he ss uton
ee, ter
i ed o y
t
i
hi r iem entbeneft whi am ountw as due and payabl att tm e he began r vi s
s etr
is, ch
e he i
ecei ng uch
beneft l a 175. Zeil r tr i 1993 and i m edi el began r vi beneft butdi not
is. d. t
ter e ied n
m
at y
ecei ng
is
d
pay a porton oft e beneft t M art . M art l ned ofZeil ' r iem enti 1 and
ny
i
hos
is o
el
el ear
ter s etr
n 994
t eafçri tt ed s at cour pr
her l ns iut t e
t oceedi asa r ul ofZeil ' f l e t com pl wih t
ngs
es t
ter s aiur o
y t he
di ol i dec
ss uton ree. l The m aterw ass ayed,how ever upon Zeil r' pe ii f bankr cy
d.
t
t
,
te s tton or
upt
14
pr ec i fl M ar 29,1
ot ton ied
ch
996. l atl75- M art i tt ed an advers y pr
d.
76.
el nsiut
ar oceedi i t
ng n he
bankr cy case. 1 at174.
upt
d.
The i ue bef e t dit ctcourtwaswhet t bankr cy courterr i fndi not
ss
or he sri
her he
upt
ed n i ng
di
schar
geabl M arel scl m st pos- ii r iem entbeneft Zeil woul recei i t
e
t ' ai o tpetton etr
is ter
d
ve n he
ter gued ha he nii
k ai ' s
o
f ur.2 I .a 176.Zeil ar t tt defi ton ofEcl m ' pur uantt 11U S. j1 ( )
ut e1 d t
C. 01 5
.
w ast be i er e ed broadl i lghtofGr and t Fourh Cicui' conductt t l at177.
o nt pr t
y ni
adv
he
t r ts
es . d.
H e ass t t hi 1 r iem entand hi s equentf l e t pay M art w er t r evant
ered hat s 993 etr
s ubs
aiur o
el e he el
conduc ,bot ofwhi occur ed pr petton. l The dit c cour found t sar ent
t h
ch
r
e- ii
d.
srit
t
hi gum
unper uasi I hel t
s ve. t d hat:
The conductneces y under Gr was appelant s f l e t pay
sar
adv
l ' aiur o
appelee upon r ptofhi m ont y pensi paym ent A st t
l
ecei
s
hl
on
s.
o he
paym ent yett ber ved,t ar cl m st ar s i t f ur at
s
o ecei
hey e ai o i e n he ut e
t tm e t paym enti r ved by appelantand not pai t t
he i he
s ecei
l
d o he
appelee. The Bankr cy Cour, alhough not cali i suc
l
upt
t t
lng t h,
c re t a gidt ed o d c ts't h l t a a p l escams
o rcl p le h s n u t e t o od h t p el ' li
y
c
'
e
on pos - il paym ent r ved by appelantand hercl m s on
tpetton
s ecei
l
ai
t
hose payment t be r ved i t f ur ar non- schar
so
ecei
n he ut e e
di
geabl
e.
l a 177d. t
78.
Li wie,nt c eofl r Ca li Fo St e .nc.287B. 5 ( D. 200 ,
ke s i he as n e mela od ors l ,
R. 2 E. Va. 2)
t cour hel t any cl m f paymentofaddii --orr und ofe
he
t d hat
ai or
tonal
ef
xcess m ont y i ur
hl ns ance
pr i ss em m i f om a 2001 i ur
em um t
ng r
ns ance contac arosepos - ii I Cam eli t
r t
tpetton. n
la, he
Pe yl ni Ma a trr'Asocai ls a eCompa ((
nns va a nufcues s iton n urnc
ny t
PMA' prvi di ua et
' o de ns rnc o
)
Cam eli Food St es f t year 1 2001. I at55. The polci expied ateach year' end
la
or or he
s 995d.
i es
r
s
and had t be r
o enew ed.Esi at 6deposi' pr i swer pai t PM A on t fis day of
tm ed t
t' em um
e do
he rt
ever m ont t covert m ont s i t l
y
ho
hat
h' nsalmentpaym entf i ur
or ns ance cover
age,and PM A w oul
d
: Theba upt c r f ndt tM a t ' cam t $1 00 rpr enig he pori oft p epeii rtrme
2
nkr cy out ou ha rels li o 8, 0, e es tn r ton he r - tton eie nt
pa nt zeterr c ve butdi no pa he , dic r a e.M a t di no a alhi de son.255B. a
yme s il e ei d
d t y r was s hage bl
rel d t ppe t s cii
R. t
1 n. .
77 1
ltrc l aea aj tt amo ofprmi owe l Ca li ha ovepai prmi fr
ae acult nd dus he unt e ums d. f mela d r d e ums o
t yea PM A w oul owe Ca eli a Sr ur pr i ,'and i Cam eli under d,i woul
he r,
d
m la ûet n em um '
f
la
pai t
d
ow e PM A an Iaddii
t tonalpr i .' 1
em um ' d.
The partesent ed i o a w or scom pens i i ur
i
er nt
ker'
aton ns ance contacton December28,
r
200 a co r gebe n onJ nua y 1 20 .JJ a 57.Fourda ltr on J nta y 5, ,
0, nd ve a
ga
a r , 01 ., t
I
.
ys ae , a ir 2001
Cam eli fl f Chapt 11 bankr cy pr ecton. l The ques i bef e t cour was
la ied or
er
upt
ot i
d.
ton or he
t
whet any cl m concer ng t 2001 i ur
her
ai
ni he
ns ance pr um s ar e pr petton orpos - ii
emi
os e- ii
t petton.
Cii t Fourh Ci t' decii i Gr t cour hel t :
tng he
t rcui s
son n adv, he
t d hat
( n rtecon tts,PMA' rg ofpa n aie u is
Ulde h
duc et
S iht
yme t rs s pon t
of erng contnued i ur
f i
i
ns ance cover t Cam tli f 2001;quie
age o
la or
t
sm pl i PM A sopped coverng Cam eli s w or s
i y, f
t
i
la'
ker'
com pensaton cl m s, Cam eli woul not need t pay PM A '
i
ai
la
d
o
S
pr i s Ther or any cl m PM A or Cam eli pos es f
em um .
ef e,
ai
la s ses or
t 2001 i ur
he
ns ance pr i s i a pos - ii cl m si s
em um s
tpetton ai nce uch
cover occur ed pos- ii .1
age
r
tpetton 3
l a 57- (ntr lcttonsomitd)
d. t 58 i ena iai
te .
Ros el Zeil and Cam eli s
enf d, ter
la uppor t fndi t tSprnts cl m s f ovem aym ent
t he i ng ha
i ' ai or
s
di notarse untlover geswer as es ed and ovem aym ent m ade. Sprntsri t paym ent
d
i
i
char
e s s
s
i ' ght o
di notaieu a ptonoft I
d
rs pon do i
he CORE Taifi 20 j ta terg t pa nti
rf n 02,us s h iht o yme n
Rosenf d di nots em fom t 1983 pur e cont ac and t r ghtt paym enti Cameli di
el d
t r he
chas
r t
he i o
n
la d
notsem f om executon oft 2001i ur
t r
i
he
ns ance cont act Li ie,Sprnts rghtt paym entdi
r . kew s
i ' i o
d
no aieupo NTELOS'f lr t s tht DTT bilnga tra i t trf i 200 j ta
t rs n
aiu e o wic o
li fe doptng he a ifn 2,us s
t cour i Zeil hel t M arelsrghtt paymentdi notars asoft dat ofZeil '
he
t n ter d hat t ' i o
d
ie
he e
ter s
r iem entand hi s equentf l e t pay M arel l t t r evantconductunderGr i
etr
s ubs
aiur o
t . ns ead, he el
adv s
'T ec ut edta teo l e c pint titn igwo l b tepe u g i frtefrt o rd y o 2 0 ,
3 h o rh l h th ny x eto o hs idn ud e h rmim ad o h isfu a s f 0 1
whi h lkel ar epr - tto Ho e r be us t pa te pr e e no e de e ast t pe - y a
c i y os e pe ii n. w ve , ca e he ri s es nt d vl nc
o he rda moun oft
t he
2001 pr m i s t co tha no c c bu t i l e t pr m i pa d f t frtf d ysof2001 wih t r s
e um , he ur d hoi e t o nc ud he e um i or he is our a
t he e t
o t 2001pr m i . 28 B. a 58f he
e ums 7 R. t 59.
N TELOS'm ont y bilng atr esexceedi t e alow ed by t I
hl li
at
ng hos l
he CORE Tarf f ser ces
if or vi
r
ender w el afert bankr cy concl
ed l t he
upt
uded.
Thi hol ng i noti
s di s
nconsst w ih t hol ngsi I r Lecki Sm okel Coal
i ent t he di n n e
e
ess
Como nv,99F.d573( hCi.1 6)a l r Thompsn,1 B. 1 ( D. 1 ) afd,
a
3
4t r 99 nd n e
o 82 R. 40 E. Va. 995, f'
9 F. 11 ( hCi.1 96)(
2 3d 82 4t r 9 unpubls dtbl de iin) o whihNTELOSrles Appl ng
ihe a e cso , n c
ei . yi
t G r conductt t t court i Lçcki and Thom os f
he adv
es , he
sn
e
on ound t t cl m sar e pr
hat he ai
os epetton;how eve t r evantconducti bot oft e casesi ditngui habl f om t conduct
ii
r, he el
n h hos
s s i s e r he
ati ue he e.
ss
r
I Lecki cerai coaloper orswih labiii undert CoalA ct t enact
n
e, t n
at
t i ltes
he
, he
mentof
w hi cr t a Pl and Fund t pr de beneft t r trng m i w or s,fl pettonsf
ch ea ed
an
o ovi
is o e ii
ne ker ied ii or
bankr c and asked t bankr cy courtt decl e t pur er oft ras et woul notbe
upt y
he
upt
o
ar hat chas s hei s s
d
labl as s
i e uccess s i i er tf t rfnanci oblgatonst t Pl and Fund. 99 F. at
or n nt es or hei i
al i i o he an
3d
57576.ThePlna Fundag dt tt c tlc ds j c matrj iditono rt
a nd
rue ha he our a ke ube t te urs ci ve he
ma trbe a et y di notha S ams' d i d i t Ba u c Code.Ll a 5
te c us he d
ve s i 'as efne n he nkr pt y
cl
l t 80.
a
Sptcik aly,t y cont
t l he
ended t tsnce f urepr i shad notyetbetn as sed,t pr i s
ha i ut
em um
ses
he em um
di notexit t Pl and Fund coul notas tcl m st t pr i s,and t cour coul not
d
s , he an
d
ser ai o he em um
he
t d
is odesf t eprmi .TheFo t Cic trj ce t sag nta hedt tt
sue r r or hos e ums
urh rui ee td hi rume nd l ha he
Plna Fund i ee hadc amsi ba u c LJ a 581 Thec r f t tt e cme t
a nd
nd d
l i n nkr pty. I t .
.
ou t ound ha he na t n
oft CoalActgave rie t t coaloper or labiiy f f ur pr i s,and t conduct
he
s o he
at s' i lt or ut e em um
hat
occur ed pr petton. I at580.l
r
ex ii
d.
ndeed,t coaloper or labiiy f f ur pr i sw as
he
at s' i lt or ut e em um
fxed a t tm e t f l t rba upt y pettons pur
i
t he i hey ied hei nkr c
ii ; suantt t CoalA ct even i t
o he
,
f he
oper t s had ceas m i ng oper i t pur an entr y dif entent prse,t y stl w oul
a or
ed ni
atons o sue
iel f er
er i he il
d
have been labl f f ur CoalActpr i s,si pl by vi ue oft pass oft Act 1 at
i e or ut e
em um
m y
rt
he
age he . d.
581n. As s t r evantconducti Lecki cl l dif fom t r evantconducti t
9.
uch, he el
n
e eary fers r he el
n he
i t cas N TELOS'labiiy w asnotfxed pr petton asw ast coaloper or i Lecki
ns ant e.
i lt
i
e- ii
he
at s' n
e;
r her N TELO S'labiiy sem sf om each over ge ass s agai Sprnt Som e oft
at ,
i lt t
r
char
es ed
nst i .
hat
alegedl er oneousbilng occur ed pos l
y r
li
r
tbankr cy. OnceN TELO S began bilng ata r e t
upt
li
at hat
compored w ih t t if N TELO S'labiiy- and Sprnt srghtt paym ent
t
t he arf ,
i lt
i' i o
--ceas
ed.
Ther evantconducti Thom ps i al o ditnguihabl l Thom pson,t courthel
el
n
on s s si s e. n
he
d
t ta polc of i e ' r g t pa e ofr tr m e b ne is a d t Re ie e tBoa d' rgh t
ha
i e fc r s i ht o ym nt e ie nt e ft , n he tr m n
r s i to
colec over
l t
paym ent m ade t t of i ,bot ar prort t flng oft of i ' Chapt 7
s
o he fcer h ose i o he ii
he fcers
er
ba r typeiin.Tho onj ne tepolc f c i 1 an atrs t ni awoknkupc tto
mps oi d h ie ore n 969 d, fe usai ng r
rltdij y, nr evi dia lyb neisi 1
eae nur bega ec i ng sbii e ft n 973.1 B. a 1 4.l 1 Thompsn
t
82 R. t 4 n 987,
o
pl guit t a dr cons r and t Retr entBoar l erde er i t he had ea ned
ed ly o ug
piacy,
he iem
d at t m ned hat
r
o r$6milon i unrpore i o efom t s ilga a tviisbewe n 1 4 a l
ve
li n e td nc m r he e le l ci te t e 97 nd 986.1 a
d. t
1 A ss
45.
uch,t Boar began t s pend ism ont y diabiiy pa ent t Thom ps i or
he
d
o us
t
hl s lt ym s o
on n der
t colectt over yment i m adet hi duri t perod. l at146. W hen Thom ps
o l he
pa
st
o m
ng hat i
d.
on
becam e elgi e t r ve r arr iem entbe ison Januar 1,1
i bl o ecei egul etr
neft
y 994,f l i 25 year of
olow ng
s
s ce t t polce f ce,t Boar s
ervi o he i or he
d oughtt w ihhol t e beneft asw el. Thompson fl
o t d hes
is
l
ied
a pe ii f r i underChapt 7 oft Bankr c Code on Decem be 29,1993 and
tton or elef
er
he
upt y
r
com m enced an advers y pr
ar oceedi agai tt Boar ar ng t any w ihhol ng ofhi
ng
ns he
d, gui hat
t di
s
diabiiy and r iem entbeneft vi at t aut atc say. The Boar count cl m ed.
s lt
etr
is ol ed he om i t
d
er ai
One i ue bef et cour w asw he he t Boar had a rghtt a s - f whi r r
ss
or he
t
t r he
d
i o etof , ch equied
afndi o ( ua cli t ta os be o et c
i ng f s
mut l ams ha r e f r he omme e ntoft ba kr pty c s . J. a
nc me
he n u c a e' #. t
'
1 H avi f
52.
ng ound t Boar srghtt colectove aym ent fom Thom ps w as i
he
d' i o l
m
sr
on
ndeed a
ç l m'asde i d i t Ban up c Code i aa l ,hec tt n dee mi d t tbo ht
i ai ' fne n he kr t y
c
,.. t 51 t our he t r ne ha t he
l
18
Bo d' a Tho on' cai aos pr- tton.Thec thedt tElj Boad' cam i
ar s nd mps s l ms r e epeii
our l ha tthe r s li s
ba e ont e o r yme si ma pr p tton, L=, ndt tdr
s d h ve pa nt t de e e ii ' d.a ha t homps srgh t pa n f r
'
on' i t o yme t o
rtrme be ft aos wh nhej ne t p i d pa t nti 1 a t be a a
eie nt neis r e e
oi d he ol e rme n 969, nd hus c me
ce
pari panti t pl ' l at153. The f t Thompson had t obt n 25 yeat ofse ce
tci
n he an.' d.
act hat
o ai
s
rvi
wasm er y a contngency. A ssuch,t Boar had a ri t s - f. l
el
i
he
d
ght o et of d.
M uch lke i t i t case,t conductr evantt t Boar scl m i Thomps was
i n he ns ant
he
el
o he
d' ai n
on
isover
t
paym entofbeneft bet
is ween 1974 and 1
986. Butunlke i t i t cas t entr t
i n he nsant e, he ie y
oft e over
hos
paym ent wasm ade pr petton. The r evantconductgi ng r s t Thompson'
s
e- ii
el
vi i e o
s
cl m al i ditngui habl Thom ps sri t paymentofbeneft ar e f om hi
ai so s s i s e.
on' ght o
is os r
s
empl ent w hi began i 1969. Her by cont as ,Spri ' rghtt r
oym , ch
n
e,
r t
nts i o epaym entsem sf om
t
r
over gesass ed i vi aton oft t ifbet
char
ess n ol i
he arf ween 2007 and 2009,yearsafert bankr cy
t he
upt
concl
uded.
W hietepur eofba kr c i t gi t d bt a(rs sa q'ta Ers sa t
l h pos
n upty s o ve he e or d eh tr 'ûg) feh tr'
f
m eansonl t t i does notm ean a contnui lcens t vi at t l -' O '
y ha ; t
i ng i e o ol e he aw ' Loahln,229 F.
i
3d
at875. Becaus t over gesaleged i Spri ' Second A m ended Com pl ntw er as sed
e he
char
l
n
nt s
ai
e ses
b NTELOS pos - nkr pt y,Sprntsc ai swe e notdic r d a isc e ofac i
y
t ba u c
i ' lm
r
s ha ge nd t aus
ton
rmansvibl Ass h,
e i a e. uc NTELOS'M oinf S
to or ummayJ
r udgme t( . 50 wilbe
n Dkt# ) l
DENIED .
1
11.
N TELO S alem atvel ar
t
i y guest t scas s d be st
hat hi e houl
ayed and r er ed t t FCC
ef r o he
und rt docrneofprmar j idito Thedocrneofprmayj iditonal ac tt
e he ti
i y urs cin.
ti
i r urs ci lows our o
sa ordimisacaewihoutprj c t gi t pate ar s bl oppo t t t se a
ty s s s t
eudie o ve he ris eaona e
runiy o e k n
adm i s r i r i on çs e i ue wihi t s alcom pet
nit atve ulng
'om ss
t n he peci
ence ofan adm i sr i
ni tatve
19
a nc ' Retrv. er 5 U. 258, ( 99 .Th docrne( l afdealc r t
ge y. ie Cooo , 07 S. 268 1 3) e ti d ows e r outo
'
al
rframatre e ngbe ndt ton nto le re e ofj es ortali wihi t
ee
te xtndi yo he c ve ina xpeinc s udg ' f lng t n he
r m ofadm i sra i di eton't an adm i s r tve agency w ih m ore s alzed expe e
eal
nit tve scr i o
nit a i
t
peci i
rince,
e rie a i i t' Na ' Copmc' As ' v. Tel& TelCo.46F.d 220, 23 (
xpe ts , nd nsgh .' tl
ns sn Am. .
. ,
3
222- 2d
Ci.1 )( tngFa Eas Conee v. tdStts 342U. 570, (952)
r 995 quoi r t frnce Unie ae ,
S. 574 1 ).
çspe iialy, ursa yprma yj iditont c e ivol ngtc c la i rc t
t cfc l co t ppl i r urs ci o ass n vi e hnia nd ntiae
q si offc a polcyt tCongrs hasasg dt apatc a ag nc ' 1 ( tngGo
uetons a t nd i ha
es
sine o riulr e y. d.cii
'
va
Food ,nc. Tr ca Pr .I ,8 F.d848, ( Ci.1 ).tGe r l s a ng,
s l v. opi na ods.nc. 46 2
851 2d r 988) t neal pe ki
y
t d ti i de ine t c di t a nitai a j cal cii ma ngb tki
he ocrne s sg d o oor nae dmi srtve nd udii de son- ki y a ng
advant ofagency experts and r er i is off notwihi t conventonalexperence
age
ie
ef rng s ues act
t n he
i
i
of u sorc s swhi rquietee rieofa nitai dic ei ' Envt.Tec Cou i
j dge a e ch e r h xecs dmi sr tve sr ton.' l h. ncl
v.SiraClb,98F. 77 789( hCi.1 6)( tngUpie Sttsv. .Pa R. Co.352
er u
3d 4, 4t r 99 cii
td ae W c. R. ,
U. 5 6 ( 95 Bydi di de iin- ki a hort t d ti sr e t pr t
S. 9, 4 1 6:.
vi ng cso ma ng ut iy,he ocrne e v s o omoe
tpr
d operr atons psbet
el i hi
ween t coursand adm i sr i agenci char w ih par i ar
he
t
nitatve
es
ged t
tcul
rgult yd is' W . .3 U. a 6 Ialosr e u cile onomybe a et diput
e aor ute . Pac, 52 S. t 3. t s e v sj di a c
'
c us he s e
m a be deci by t adm i sra i agenc and obvi est need f cour i el i See
y
ded
he
nit tve
y
at he
or
t nt wenton.
Rva v. mlwnCor ,935F. 1 1 (t Ci.1 )
n Che a
p.
2d 29, 31 7h r 991.
Alhou ç(notxe f mul e ssf a pl ngt docrneofprmayj iditon,'
t gh ((q i d or a xit or p yi he ti
i r urs ci ''
Env l Te h.Councl 98F. a 78 ( otng W . c,35 U. a 6 ,c t fe e l e o
t. c
i, 3d t 9 qu i
Pa . 2 S. t 4) ours r qu nty mply
a f f ort ,asf l s:
our act est olow
( ) W hehe t queto a is i wihi t c veni l
1
t r he sin t sue s t n he on tona
e re ofj sorwhehe ii l tc c lorpolc
xpeince udge
t rt nvoves e hnia
iy
consder i w ihi t agency' pa i arfel ofexperts
i atons t n he
s rtcul i d
ie;
(
2)
W hehe t que tona is i pa tc a l wihi t
t r he si t sue s riulry t n he
agency' dicr ton;
s s ei
(
3)
W h he t r e ssas tnta da e ofi onsse
et r he e xit ubsa il ng r nc itnt
r i
ulngs;and
(
4)
W hehe apro a ia in t t a n hasbe n ma .
t r ir pplc to o he ge cy
e de
N atlCom m c' A s p,46 F. at222.Cent Tel Co.ofVa.v.SprntCom m c' Co.ofVa.
'
ns s'
3d
,
. .
i
ns
,
759F.
Supp. 772,7 ( D. 2011.Theco tmus as baanc t a ntge of
2d
86 E. Va. )
ur t lo l e he dva a s
appl ng t docti agai tt pot i cos sr uli f om com plcatonsand del i t
yi he
rne
ns he ental t es tng r
i i
ay n he
a nita i pr c di .Ric v.Chi M e c ntl Exc ,409U. 28 321( 973 .
dmi sr tve o ee ngs c i
. r a ie h.
S. 9,
1 )
N TELO S ar
guest t sdiput pr
hat hi s e operl s d be r ved by t FCC l tt cour
y houl
esol
he
es he
t
ûbecom e em br l i t t
c
oied n he echni as s'oft f consr i Acces Tel
cal pect ' arif
tucton.
s ecom m .v.Sw .
BelTe. ,1 F. 605,609( hCi.1 ) NTELOSpoi so ta t I
l lCo. 37 3d
8t r 998.
nt ut h t he CORE Taifi
rf s
m or t 500 pagesl a has over400 sec i ,and i com pried ofm any i ty t m s
e han
ong nd
tons
s
s
ndusr er
a a r nymst tma i difc tt unde san NTELOSco e t tr s vk t sdiput
nd c o
ha ke t fiul o
rt d.
ntnds ha e ol ng hi s e
w ilr r t cour t consr varoust
l equie he
to
t ue i echni t m st have partcul connot i and
cal er hat
i ar
atons
mea ngs i t t ecom m uni i i ty,i udi whet Sprntpr l or ed DTT
ni n he el
catons ndusr ncl ng
her i opery der
s ces undert t m soft I
ervi
he er
he CORE Tarf ,i ty gui i and s andar . N TELO S ur
if ndusr
delnes
t
ds
ges
t cour t consi t si ue agai tt backdr ofyear ofl tans r r t i by
he
to
der hi ss
ns he
op
s ocal r port estuc urng
t FCC a sugges st tt FCC i i t bes poston t ass how t I
he
nd
t ha he
s n he t ii o ess
he CORE Tarf s d
if houl
be i er et i lghtofr i i vi ot si iart if
nt pr ed n i
ulngs nvol ng her m l arf s.
N TELO S ass st t defnii s i i t I RE Tarf r i upon by Sprnt
ert hat he i tonal ectons n he CO
if eled
i
ar i i t t e f
e dentcal o hos ound i anot t ifused w i y i t i t y,t N atonalExchange
n
her arf
del n he ndus r he i
CaresAso ainTaif(I
rir s cito rf I
NECA Taif', tSprn ' c tucinoft I
rf ) ye its onsr to he CORE Taifs
rf'
t r s r contar t t w a t s e pr sonsoft NECA Tarf ar i er e ed
e m uns
r y o he y he am
ovi i
he
if e nt pr t
t oug t i ty.I pa tc a ,Sprn a g sfom jj2. an 6.. ( ( & ( t tt
hr hout he ndusr n riulr it r ue r
6 d 13.A)2) 3) ha he
21
I
CORE Ta ifo y pe m isN TELOS t c r a DTT r t f rc t i s r c s gm e s W hie
rf nl r t
o ha ge
a e o era n e vi e e nt .
l
t defnii t tappearst s
he i tonal es
o upports aconsructon,t N ECA A ccessChar H andbook,
uch
t i he
ge
perai ng t i i s i oft N ECA Tarf ,a
t ni o dentcal ectons he
if ppear t suppor t cont ar posii ie.
so
t he
r y
ton, . ,
t tan l C such asSprntcan or a be pr ded s iched accessser cesby a LEC s as
ha
X
i
der nd
ovi
wt
vi
uch
NTELOS o aTST bass Asar ul,
n
i.
es t NTELOS a gu t ta ptonofSprntsloston b t
r es ha do i
i ' ii y he
courtw oul r ti i
d esul n ncons sentapplcatonsofi i t
it
i i
dentcal ennsi t I
n he CORE and NECA
Tarf s lkel t caus wi pr conf i acr t i ty.
if , i y o
e des ead
uson oss he ndusr
Spi a g st tNTELOShaswai disprmayj idito agume bywatngs
rnt r ue ha
ve t i r urs cin r nt
ii o
l t r se t i ue i t s cas Spri posist t s cas doesnotpr
ong o ai he ss n hi e.
nt t hat hi e
esentany com plcat
i ed
ort chni i uesbeyond t ken oft courtand t tt scas m ay be deci bas on t
e cal ss
he
he
ha hi e
ded ed he
pl n m eani oft I
ai
ng he CORE Tarf undert fl r t doct ne. Spri cont
if
he ied a e
ri
nt
endst tt
ha he
unam bi
guoust m soft I
er
he CORE Tar f do notalow NTELOS t char Spri f TST
if
l
o
ge
nt or
s vi f t s ent ati ue i t s cas r dl s ofwhatl acces s vi w er
er ces or he egm s ss n hi e egar es
ocal
s er ces e
or red by Sprnt Sprntar
de
i . i guest t fl r edocti undeni bl srcti applca i does
hat he ied at
rne,
a y ti n
i ton,
notalow N TELO S t char Sprnta r t nots l outi isfl t f . Fi l Sprntar
l
o
ge i
ae
peled
n t ied arif naly, i gues
t tt itrssof usieaeno sr db dea ngt smat a f tert alow t FCC t
ha he neet j tc r t eve y lyi hi ter ny urh o l he
o
w ei i on t diput
gh n he s e.
On one hand,t cor i s i t s cas s sr atvel sr ghtor d: Do t
he e s ue n hi e eem el i y tai f war
he
defnii s i oft I RE Tarifalow N TELOS t char t hi
i tonal ectons he CO
f l
o
ge he gherTST r esf
at or
t ace
Sprn c lsta r i t s gme t o t NTELOS s t m a is ?1 O n is f , j2. o t
it al r ve sng he e n s f he
yse t s ue 4
6 f he
I
CORE Ta ifdei st s sgme sa bengDTTa j6.. A)2 pr de t taDTTrt
rf fne hee e nt s i
nd 13( () ovi s ha
ae
a ple f s h ac
p is or uc ommunia inspa h.Co itnty,j6. . A)3 sa e t tt TST r t
c to t
nsse l
13( ( ) tt s ha he
ae
: Sprnti ntfest os s gme sast s gmen fo t Roa oke Se v ng W ie Cen e t t W a es o End
4 i de ii h e e nt he e
t r m he n
ri
r
t r o he yn bor
Of i ean t s
fc d he egme f o t Roa
nt r m he noke Se v ng W ieCe e t t NTELOS Ta m .
ri
r ntr o he
nde
22
a plest a dif en com m uni a i pa h, ha oft e s gm e tb t e t t e a t e d
p i o fer t
c tons t t t h e n e we n he and m nd he n
ofi Becauset DTT r e i t onl r t t applest t segm ent i ques i Spri
f ce.
he
at s he y a e hat
i o he
sn
ton, nt
ar
gues t t s cas pr
hat hi e esent no t
s echni orpolcy isueswar antng a r er alf a f ual
cal
i s
r i
ef r or act
det m i i by t FCC.
er naton
he
On t ot hand,m any ot pr sonsoft I
he her
her ovi i
he CORE Ta f s
rif uppor N TELOS'
t
ar entt an l s asSprntm us speciy and or t l acces s cesi r r
gum
hat XC uch
i
t
f
der he ocal
s ervi t equies.
Thee r rporsfldb NTELOS i oppostont t moto f s
xpe te t ie y
n
ii o he in or ummayj me rc nt
r udg nt e ou
t r a or hit y ofLocalTra portResr urng over
he egul t y s or
ns
tuct i
seen by t FCC overt pas t
he
he t wo
decades. l hi exper r
n s
t eport N TELO S e tJefr W .Reynol chart t FCC '
,
xper f ey
ds
s he
S
1
i ve enti t scom plca ed and t
nvol m
n hi
i t
echni r t urng pr
cal esruct i
ocessback t 1992.5 R eyj j
o
w ds
.
s at t t FCC cl l pl
t es hat he
eary aced t r
he esponsi lt f or ng DiectTr
biiy or deri
r
unked Tr por
ans t
s vi on I CS s as Sprnt whie att s e tm e l ng t w ih t opton of
er ces X , uch
i , l he am i eavi hem t he i
co i ngt us Ta m Swic dTrns t evie Re dsRe r, t #6 2,a ! 1
ntnui o e nde
the a pors r c . ynol po tDk . 3- t 9.
Reynol not t t FCC onl alow ed non-fir 1 LECS s asN TELO S,t fl t f sf
ds es hat he
y l
-e
, uch
o ie arif or
DTT u r eptofabo fderquetf DTT.1-a !20.Sprn a ee ,ort pur e of
pon ec i
na i e s or
/. t
it gr s f he poss
t sm oton onl t no s r
hi
i
y, hat uch eques w asm ade by Spri untlN ovem ber2009.
t
nt i
The exper r t fl by N TELO S s
t epors ied
ugges t t swich f om TST t DTT s vi
t hat he t r
o
er ces
wa notasmpl matrofus c ngigt rt a Sprntsmoi pr fr.Rahe t sr c s
s
i e te j t ha n he ae s i ' ton ofes t r he evie
pr ded ar i enty di f ent Forexam pl N TELO S sat t underTST,t l
ovi
e nher l fer .
e,
t es hat
he ocal
exchange c ri hast burden ofens i t i hasadequat capaciy t handl t l
ar er
he
urng hat t
e
t o
e he ong
: Re dsta e t FCC' ove sgh o t sp o s ba kt isFis Tr ns tOr eris edi 1 2,whih hi
5 ynol r c s he
S r i t f hi r ce s c o t rt a por d s u n 99
c s
Expe t p tq e asf l : t-'e r t sr t e a prci ofs t hed ta p ta e t ke t ne ofa
r Re or uot s olows ç h a e tucur nd i ng wic
f
r ns or r he ys o
r gult ysr tr desgne t pr ec
e aor tucu e i d o omot ompeii f i esaes the ta p ta itr xc nges r iea d
tton or ntrtt wic d r ns or nd ne e ha
e vc n
t e o ageefiin us oft a e snewor t rby pomotnge onomi i sme andi ton.
o nc ur
fce t e he cc s t k hee r i c
c nve t nt nnovai '
'
Re n lsRe o tDk . 6 - , t! 1 ,1 ( u tn l t Matro Trn n r RaeS r cu ea dPrcn ,
y od p r, t # 3 2 a ! 4 5 q o ig n he te f a s o t t tu t r n ii n CC
Do k t 9121 , 9 - 4 7FCC Rc . 0 6( t b r1 , 9 2
c e No. - 3 FCC 2 4 2,
d 7 0 Oco e 6 1 9 :.
dit
s ance car i staf i w hie underDTT t bur s fst t l dit
rer' r fc, l
he den hit o he ong s ance car i t m ake
rer o
s e i or ssuf ci capaciy t ha e a1 ofist af i
ur t der fi ent
t o ndl l t r fc.
N TELOS expl nsf t t t I
ai urher hat he CORE Tarf pl t oblgaton on Sprntt t l
if aces he i i
i o el
N TELO S w ha s vi i w ant t or . Chapt 5 oft I
t er ces t
s o der
er
he CORE Tarif entted Acces
f, il
s
Or i s
derng, pans27 pagesand pr desde aied or i r r ent The l accesss vi
ovi
t l derng equiem s.
ocal
er ces
o de f r t r d a Ac es Se vieRe es C$ ', o d f rno ls t n 47dif r n
r r o m, e me n c s r c qu t ASR' pr vi es o
)
e s ha
fe e t
vald confgur tonsunderw hi a cusom erm ay or s iched acces s ce. W ihoutan
i
i ai
ch
t
der w t
s ervi
t
or fom Sprnt N TELO S ass t t i had no w ay t know w hi conf gur i Sprnt
der r
i,
ers hat t
o
ch
i aton i
s
oughtand t t pr si ofDTT s vi w ihoutan A SR r
hat he ovi on
er ces t
eques i t s e was
tng he am
pr i l and t
actcaly
echni l i pos bl
caly m si e.
Bot Sprnta NTELOS a guet tap ton ofj5. 1oft eI
h i nd
r ha ori
2. h CORE Ta if s ciyi
rf, pe f ng
t or i r r
he derng equiement f s iched accesss ce,supporst rposii Seçton 5. 1
s or w t
ervi
t hei
ton.
i 2.
is fi s
t el s even pagesl
ong,and each part f es on t frs par aph oft s s i whi
y ocus
he i t agr
hi ecton, ch
sat asf l vs;
t es oloN
5. 1 Sw iched Acces Servi
2.
t
s
ce
W hen or i Sw iched A ccess s ce, t cus om er must
derng
t
ervi
he
t
s f t diectonalt of t s ce and whet t s ce i
peciy he r i iy he ervi
her he ervi s
t bepr de a ()Die tTr d Trns tfom t s r ng
o
ovi d s 1 rc unke a por r he evi
wiec ntrt tee ofieo ( Diec Tr edTrns r fo
r e e o h nd fc r 2) r t unk
a po t rm
t s ng w ie cent t a t
he ervi
r
er o andem whi connect w ih Tandem
ch
s t
Sw iched Tr portf om t t m t t end of i W hen a1 or
t
ans
r he ande o he
fce.
1
a pori of ser ce i or ed as D iect Tr
ton
vi s der
r
unked Tr port t
ans , he
cus om er m us s f t t and quantt of D iect Tr
t
t peciy he ype
iy
r
unked
Tr ns r f ciiy ( g. Voi Gr d Hih Ca ct DS1orDS3,
a po t a lt e. , ce a e, g pa iy
or Sync r
h onous Optca Cha OC3 o OCl ) a t hu o'
i l nnel
r
2 nd he bs r
A DM equi
pped w ie cent si ved.
r
er nvol
Spri ar
nt guest t fr ts ence oft s s i unam bi
hat he is ent
hi ecton
guousl s
y upport isposii t tt
st
ton ha he
I
CORE Tarifonl alow sN TELOS t pr de and char Sprntf D TT ser cesbet een t
f y l
o ovi
ge i or
vi
w
he
s ng w ie cent and t end offce ort
ervi
r
er
he
i
andem . To be s e,t f t t ssent
ur he act hat hi
ence onl
y
mentonsDTT s vi support Sprntsconsr i A tt sam e tm e,however,t s s ence
i
er ces
s i '
tucton.
he
i
hi ent
doesnotcl l s a e t DTT s vi i t onl t ofser ce t coul be pr ded. Ot
eary t t hat
er ce s he y ype
vi hat d
ovi
her
pa s g i j5. 1a pea t s es t tTST s r ie c n beor r d.Fore m pl t ve y
s a es n 2. p r o ugg t ha
e vc s a
de e
xa e,he r
ne tsntnc ,whihope wiht prdiaet tll he a1orapo to oft sr iei
x e e e c ns t he e c t ha swl n l
rin he e vc s
or ed asD iectTr
der
r
unked Tr por,' ai y s
ans t'pl nl ugges st apori oft or can s f
t hat
ton he der
peciy
TST.TST i as meni do t ne pa eofj5. 1 whihpr desçl he ac tme ha
s lo tone n he xt g
2., c ovi ûwj n uso r s
bot Tandem Sw iched Tr por and DiectTr
h
t
ans t
r
unked Tr por a t sam e end of i t
ans t t he
fce, he
c tme wilbepovi dAlenaeTrfi Routnga stfrhi Se ton6. 6C)f l ng.l
uso r l r de tr t afc
i s e o t n ci 4.4 olowi '6
'
Ot s tonsoft I
her ec i
he CORE Tarf m ake cl t oblgaton oft l C t t lt LEC
if
ear he i i
he X o el he
wha sr c siwa si a ASR.Fore mpl,CORE Taifj2.. r uiest tt l
t evie t nt n n
xa e I
rf 14 eq r ha he XC
prviera o enoieoft sr ie rq rd.Se to 5. sae t tûll c t rs al
o d e s nabl tc he e vc s e uie
cin 1 tts ha tthe usome h l
pr viet t Telp
o d o he e honeCompa y t or ri or tonr quie i Se ton 5. 'a j6. 2
n he de nf ma i e r d n c i 2,5 nd 1.
pr dest tsw iched A cces Ser ce i or ed undert A ccessOr pr sonssetf h i
ovi hat ç t
s vi s der
he
der ovii
ort n
Se ton5. ' Furhe ,j6.. A)oft I
ci 2. t r 13(
5
he CORE Taifr uie tel ditnc c rir whe
rf eq rs h ong sa e are , n
or i D TT,t s f çt t ofD iectTr
derng
o peciy dhe ype
r
unked Tr por and w het i w ilovertow t
ans t
her t l
l o
Tandem Sw iched Tr portw hen s vi i diecty r ed t an end of i ' These s i
t
ans
er ce s r l out o
fce.'
ectons
pl nl pl t bur on Sprntt or t s ces i needsand r s questonsast w het
ai y ace he den
i o der he ervi t
aie
i
o
her
isSone r e ft al' ar ents resw ih t a1 oft t m s oft I
t ç at is l' gum
qua
t he l he er
he CORE Tarf and t way
if
he
t i
he ndusty hasopera ed underi and si iart ifpr si
r
t
t
m l arf ovi ons.
I i cl ,t
t s ear heref e,t t I
or hat he CORE Tarf r r Sprntt orderw hatl acces
if equied i o
ocal
s
s vi i w ant t pur e f om N TELOS. Sprntar
er ces t
ed o chas r
i guest r dl s ofisoblgaton t
hat egar es
t
i i o
1 Th c ta ec a e t tt s s n e co d be c sr d c it n wih Sp i ' ar
6 e our ppr i t s ha hi e t nce ul
on tue ons se t t rnts gumen ,a i doe not
t st s
d s ut t t NTELOS'bilng ofTST s r i esbet en t N TELO S t nde a t e of ie wa co r c .
i p e ba
li
e vc
we he
a m nd he nd fc s r e t
Howe r t s s t nc i notlm iedt t ts na i a i ,fa y,a cl ra mud.
ve , hi en ç e s
i t o ha ce ro nd s r nkl s ea s
or ,t ew as onl one t ofs vi t t I
der her
y
ype er ce hat he CORE Tari alow ed i t or and t t
ff l
t o der
hat he
fl r e doct i r r NTELOS t r und Sprntf m oni pai i exces oft DTT r e.
ied at
rne equies
o ef
i or
es d n
s he
at
The m anneri whi t e t pari oper ed f seven year and ot i ci of
n ch hes wo tes
at or
s
her ndi a
i ty pr i s
ndus r actce ugges sot w ie.To be s e,t fl r t doc rne doesnotalow Sprntand
t her s
ur he ied a e t i
l
i
N TELO S t agr t a r t ot t t ts f t i t t rif. See,e. ,M ai i l
o ee o a e her han ha et orh n he a f
R.
sln ndus.U. .
S.
Ic. PrmavSt llc.497U. 1 6,1 (1 ) D. Swai Ga Co.l v.Di ePielne
n v. i r ee. n ,
S. 1 26 990 ; S. n s .nc. xi p i
Co.911F. 721 1 W L 11 ,a * ( hCi.1 )(npubls dt eo ni ;MCl
,
2d , 990
2071 t 2 4t r 990 u
ihe abl pi on)
W ordcom N et or Ser .l v.Paet Com m c' l ,N o.Ci A . 479,2005 W L
l
w k vs. nc.
ec
ns. nc.
v. 04-1
21 49 a * 5( D. Aug.31 2005 .Thepu pos o t docrnei t p e ntprc
45 9, t 3- E. Va.
, )
r e f he ti s o r ve ie
dicrm i i am ong cus om er . Thi case doesnotpr entcicum sances how ever oft t
s i naton
t
s
s
es
r
t
,
, he wo
pari actng i a m anne t s r t t ift beneftone cus om er. Rat ,t pari actng at
tes i n
r o kit he arf o
i
t
her he tes, i
ar ' l h,opera ed f seven year wih Sprntpayi N TELO S t perm i e,per m ie r t
m s engt
t or
s t
i
ng
he - nut
- l ae
f TST se ces. G i t l ge am ountofmoney i ved,t f t Sprntw asbil and
or
rvi
ven he ar
nvol
he act hat i
led
pai f TST s vi f s a l perod oftm e s
d or
er ces or uch ong i
i uggest t t i ue i notas cl cutas
s hat he ss s
ear
Sprntc e . W e e i a c e ra Sp i m ai a ns o c nnothe p bu wonde w h i t ok
i pnt nds
r t s l a s rnt nt i , ne a
l t
r y to
Sprnts l t r
i o ong o eques a r und oft cl m ed over ge.
t ef
he ai
char
l addii t t cus om and pr tce oft e t o pari overt s
n
ton o he t
ac i
hes w
tes
he even year bet
s ween
2002 and 2009,N TELO S ofer evi
f s dence t t cusom and pr i oft i
hat he t
actce he ndusty i gener
r n
al
i consit w ih isvi t tt I
s
s ent t t ew ha he CORE Tarf alowed i t pr de and bilSprntf TST
if l
t o ovi
l i or
ser ces. As det l i t expertr tofGar M .Zi r t,ot s i t i t y have
vi
aied n he
epor
y
nga eti her n he ndus r
i e pr t d i n i all ngua e i t w i l us d N ECA Ta ift alow a l dit n c r i rt
nt r e e de tc a
g n he de y e
rf o l
ong s a ce a re o
ûuse Tandem Swiched Tr
s
t
ansports ce as isprm ar f m oftans
ervi
t i y or
r porti leu ofD iect
ni
r
Tr nke Tr ns r. Se NECA Ac es Cha g Ha dboo j6, tp. 5,atc d a Ex. Zu d a po t' e
'
c s r e n k, a 6- ta he s GM
26
4t Ex r Re tofGayM . ngaet( . 653) AsZi rti xpl ns t NECA
o pe t por
r Zi rtiDkt# - .
ngaete ai ,he
Ac e sChag Ha bookpr de g da et moet n l1 l a e ha ss j c t t
cs
re nd
ovi s ui nc o r ha ,00 oc l xc nge ube to he
N ECA Tarf . N TELO S ar
if
guest Spri ' cons r i oft I RE Tarf t r r DTT
hat nts
t ucton he CO
if o equie
s vi and r esi i
er ces
at s nconsst w ih t w ay t i ty hasoper ed underi i
i ent t he
he ndusr
at
dentcal
pr si oft NECA Tarf . N TELO S hi i st rsk ofi
ovi ons he
if
ghlght he i
ncons sentapplca i of
it
i tons
smia trf lng geasasg fc n fcori j tf ngarfrnc t t FCC.
i lr aif a ua
iniia t a t n usiyi eee e o he
The cour agr
t ees. l
ndeed,applcaton oft NatonalCom m uni i f or i t s
i i
he i
catons act s n hi
cas s
e upporsa r er
t ef ence t t FCC. Fis ,t courtbelevest t pr sand r r ent
o he
r t he
i
hat he oces
equiem s
f or i s iched acces s cesi vest
or derng w t
s ervi nvol echni consi atonswihi t FCC'
cal
der i
t n he
S
pari arfel ofe
tcul i d xpertse. Overt pas t decades t FCC hasbeen dealng wih l
i
he t wo
, he
i
t ocal
tans tr tuct i and i w el- pped t ass t t
r por esr urng
s lequi
o ess he echni r r ent ofw ha Sprnt
cal equiem s
t i
or ed and w hatN TELOS pr ded and t or i pr sby w hi t e s cesw er t
der
ovi
he derng oces
ch hos ervi
eo
be r
equesed. The or i s rct esoft I
t
derng t i ur
he CORE Tarf al r 27 pages and det l
if one un
,
aied
t chni i uesconcer ng t r r ent oft or i pr
e cal ss
ni he equiem s he derng ocessar bes fr tdiect t t
e t is r ed o he
FCC.Pl nl whe he NTELOS wasal dt bilSprntf TST s r c sc lsf rt
ai y, t r
lowe o l i or
e vie al o he
gui
dance oft FCC ast t oper i oft Fcc- oved I
he
o he
aton he
appr
CORE Tarifi t r a or
f n he egult y
fam ew or consr ed by t FCC f t pr son ofl acces s ces. Second,t si s
r
k
tuct
he
or he ovii
ocal
s ervi
hi s ue
f l squar y w ihi t FCC ' di e i Thid,t cour i pari ary concer by t f t
als
el t n he
S scr ton. r he
t s tcul l
ned he ac
t ti i pr si oft N ECA Tarf ar i er et by t i ty i a m annerdif ent
ha dentcal ovi ons he
if e nt pr ed he ndusr n
f er
f om t advocat by Sprnt t r sng t subsantaldangerofi
r hat
ed
i , hus aii he
t i
nconsit r i on
s ent ulngs
i i pr si ofpar l t ifs.The concer overi
dentcal ovi ons
alel arf
n
nconsit r i com pel t cour
s ent ulngs
s he
t
t c l et a t e rieandkno e oft FCC a t ho t i ty i epr t smia
o oncud h t he xpe ts
wldge he
s o w he ndusr ntr es i lr
t ifpr sons a oper esi pr i i crtcalt t pr
arf qvii
nd
at n actce s ii o he operr uton oft pr entdi e.
esol i
he es
sput
A not subsantalr
her
t i eason m otvatng t cour t r ert sm atert t FCC i t
i i he
t o ef hi
t o he
s he
pr i and t
actcal
echni i pos biiy ar entr s by N TELOS. N TELO S ar
cal m si lt gum
aied
guest t
hat he
I RE Tarifr r i t pr de ser cesor ed by Sprnt and t i cannotr Spri '
CO
f equies t o ovi
vi
der
i,
hat t
ead
nts
m i and gues att s cest be pr ded.N TELO S'expertReynol s at
nd
s he ervi o
ovi
ds t es:
Abs a vald A SR fom Sprntf DTT bilng N TELOS had no
ent
i
r
i or
li
basi f s ichi Sprntt D TT and w as unabl t antci t and
s or w t ng i o
e o i pa e
pr s on t DTT ne wor confgur i and tans
ovii he
t k
i aton
r port el ent
em
Spri desied. The pr ence of a vald and cor ect A SR has
nt
r
es
i
r
i i i not onl f access bilng but al f t pr
mplcatons
y or
li
so or he oper
pr si ng of t net k f lt t be utlzed by an I .
ovi oni
he wor aciiy o
ii
XC
W ih
t out Sprnt co m uni a i t t
i
m
c tng he ype of DTT bilng
li
ar angem ent NTELO S hasno w a ofknowi t e par e er
r
,
y
ng hes
am t s.
Re dsRe tDkt#63- a !25. Thi ma ss ns t t c ur a wel.I s r,hi c s
ynol por, . 2, t
s ke e e o he o t s l n ho tt s ae
t nson t t
ur
he echni consi atonsas at w ih t oblgaton of Spri t or DTT
cal
der i
soci ed t he i i
nt o der
s vi undert I RE Tarf . Such (t
er ces
he CO
if
techni consder tonsar bes r ol i t fr t
cal
i ai
e t es ved, n he is
i t
nsance,by t FCC,t agency w ih bot t experie i t t
he
he
t
h he
ts n hese echni i uesand t
cal ss
he
m a et el dat and i pl entt A ct' Adva t .LLC v.Spri Com m c' Co. L. .
ndat o uci e
m em
he .'
m el
nt
ns . P.
l F.
25 Supp. 800,8 ( D. 2001.Fi ly,t c r doe notbele t fc t tt s
2d
05 E. Va. ) nal he ou t s
ive he a tha hi
m a t rha no ye be n pr s nt d t t FCC di i s t b eftofobt ni t be ftofis
te s t t e e e e o he
m nihes he en i
ai ng he ne i t
know l
edge a experence on t shi y com plx and t
nd
i
hi ghl
e
echni is
cal s ue.
The courtf am est i s f r er
r
he s ue or ef ence asf l s: W het undert FCC r at y
olow
her
he
egul or
f a e o k, het r s o t I
r m w r t e m f he CORE a s m ia t rf s a i us r c t a pr tc ,
nd i l r a if , nd nd t y usom nd ac i e
NTELOS wasper it t pr de and char Sprntf l accesss cesatt Tandem
m ted o ovi
ge i or ocal
ervi
he
Swich d Tr ns tr t durng t 20 09 pe i d i qu ton? To be s e t r i no f r al
t e a por a e i he 07ro n es i
ur , he e s o m
r f ra me hg s b whih ac ur c n on isown a t rt de nd orr ues adee mi ton
e e r l c nim y c o t a
t
u ho iy ma
eq t tr nai
fom a qg nc Retrv. pe ,50 U. 258, n. ( 993) Rahe ,hepr e si
r n e y. ie Coo r 7 S. 268 3 1 . t r t oc s s
s ewhatI
om
oose,res tng i a say oft e pr
uli n t
hes oceedi s ast gi t pari an opport t
ngs o o ve he tes
uniy
wi nwhiht a yt t FCC f isviwsont is r sdheen.l (ii Unie
t
hi c o ppl o he
ort e
he sue aie ri d.ctng td
Sae v. . c. Co.352U. 59,6 ( 95 ) Gra Am. nkCa Cor v. Doa
tts W Pa R. ,
S. 4 1 6 ; e t Ta
r n. El rdo
Temi lCo.3 U. 422,43 ( 9 ;a Mic lCo &- Co. Pa R. , U.
r na , 08 S.
3 1 40) nd thel al cok: v. . Co.230 S.
247, ( 91 ).
267 1 3)
The courtr
ecogni t a r eraloft sques i t t FCC m ay res ti s e
zes hat ef r
hi
ton o he
ul n om
addii del oft s m ater. G i how l i hast
tonal ay hi
t
ven
ong t
aken Sprntt r s t si sue,however
i o aie hi s
,
t cour belevest any atendantdely w ilbe m or t of setby t t
he
t i
hat
t
a l
e han f
he echni know l
cal
edge
a d i usr e pere e br ugh t be rb t FCC ast t f c ua is c e ni how t
n nd ty x i nc o t o a y he
o he a t l s ues onc r ng
he
i ty oper esw ih r d t t or ng ofs iched acces ser ces and partcul l w ih
ndus r
at
t egar o he deri
wt
s vi
i ary t
r a dt whehe t i epr tton oft I
eg r o
t r he ntr e ai
he CORE Taifpos d b S itc
rf e y prn ompo t wih i ty
rs t ndusr
pr i To m i m i t i pac oft sdel however,t s ay w ilbe oflm ied dur i
actce.
ni ze he m t hi ay,
he t
l
i t
aton.
The casew ilbe sayed f ei m ont onl untlM ay 15,2013. l ,by t tm e,t FCC has
l
t
or ght
hs y, i
f
hat i he
no r e on t is r f re t i,ati a e sngal r mani q tons icl ng t e
t uld he s ue e e r d o t ral ddr s i l e i ng uesi , n udi hos
r f r e y t FCC, ilpr e d i t sco t
e e r d p he
w l oc e n hi ur .
IV.
Fort s raons NTELOS'moto frs
he e e s ,
in o ummar udg nt( .#50 i DENI a
yj me Dkt ) s
ED nd
ismoint sa a rfrt t FCC ( t #6 i GRANTED.Be us t smatrwilbe
t to o ty nd ee o he
Dk . 4) s
ca e hi te l
r ered t t FCC,t cour need notconsi t m ert ofSprnt sm oton f s m ar
ef r o he
he
t
der he is
i '
i or um
y
j me ta t tmoto ( . 5 )wilbeDENI a t stme
udg n, nd ha in Dkt# 7 l
ED t hi i .
29
An a pr i t Or rwilbee e ed.
p opra e de l
nt r
Ent ed: Augus 6,201
er
t
2
/ , : .0 / #p
+/ - % #
c
Mi
chaelF.U r
banski
Unied St esD it ctJ
t at
sri udge
30
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