WASHINGTON -- The Verizon telephone companies (Verizon) filed a petition for forbearance from Title II of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and the Commission's Computer Inquiry rules on December 20, 2004. On December 19, 2005, the Commission extended the forbearance deadline to March 19, 2006. Verizon amended its petition on February 7 and February 17th, 2006. Section 10(c) provides that a forbearance petition “shall be deemed granted if the Commission does not deny the petition for failure to meet the requirements for forbearance under subsection (a) within one year after the Commission receives it, unless the one year period is extended by the Commission.” This is to inform the public that, pursuant to section 10(c), the relief requested in Verizon’s petition was deemed granted by operation of law, effective March 19, 2006.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ)