Interconnection AgreementsOn February 8, 1996, the President signed into law the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Act), which establishes requirements and procedures intended to open existing telecommunications markets to competition. Under § 252(a) of the Act, a telecommunications carrier can request an incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) to negotiate an agreement for interconnection, services or network elements to facilitate entry into the ILEC’s local market. Such a request gives rise to a corresponding duty on both carriers to negotiate in good faith. Under § 252(b) either carrier may petition the relevant state commission to arbitrate any issues the parties have not resolved through negotiation. Whether the interconnection agreement derives from an arbitration and/or a negotiation process, the Commission must determine that the agreement does not discriminate against a carrier not party to the agreement and that the agreement is not inconsistent with the public interest (§ 252(e) of the Act). View Interconnection Agreement related documents in eDockets & eFiling, select year, select Docket Type as Interconnection, search. |