Regulatory Commission of Alaska

RCA ADVISES ALASKAN COUNSUMERS THAT MCI WITHDREW ITS APPLICATION FILED WITH THE FCC

Anchorage, AK - The Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) announces that MCI Communications Services, Inc. (MCI) withdrew its Section 63.71 Application filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). 

The Application filed on July 25, 2007, provided notice that beginning September 4, 2007, MCI would no longer permit users of MCI’s Prepaid Phone Cards purchased from Costco stores to recharge their cards using a credit card with an Alaska billing address or by calling from an Alaskan telephone number. On August 9, 2007, the RCA filed a letter opposing the MCI application as a) contrary to the public interest, b) unduly discriminatory to Alaskans, c) contrary to federal law, and d) anti-competitive.   The RCA asked the FCC to investigate issues related to MCI prepaid calling cards and take actions as appropriate to ensure Alaskans are treated fairly and MCI complies with federal law.

The FCC did not address MCI’s Section 63.71 Application.  As a result, MCI did not have authority to prevent Alaskans from recharging their prepaid MCI and Verizon label phone cards.  Nevertheless, for several months, MCI included a lengthy message as part of its Alaska prepaid card announcements. 

On March 13, 2008, MCI withdrew its Section 63.71 Application to the FCC.  A copy of  MCI's March 13, 2008, filing is attached to this announcement.