Order [33 Pa.B. 1908] Public Meeting held
March 21, 2003Commissioners Present: Glen R. Thomas, Chairperson; Robert K. Bloom, Vice Chairperson; Aaron Wilson, Jr.; Terrance J. Fitzpatrick; Kim Pizzingrilli
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, Law Bureau Prosecutory Staff v. Group Long Distance, Inc. (2002.0398); Doc. No. C-20039289; A-310423; A-310423F0002 Order By the Commission:
On January 17, 2003, Law Bureau Prosecutory Staff filed a Formal Complaint against Group Long Distance, Inc. (GLD), an interexchange telecommunications (IXC) reseller with authority at A-310423, and a competitive local exchange (CLEC) provider at A-310423F0002, alleging that that GLD violated 66 Pa.C.S. § 504 (relating to reports by public utilities) by failing to file its 2001 Annual Report for both authorities. The Complaint requested that the Commission issue an order canceling GLD's certificates of public convenience.
Service of the Complaint was perfected on January 31, 2003. GLD filed an answer on February 24, 2003, in which it stated that it has had no CLEC operations since the Commission granted its application by order entered April 10, 1998. In its answer GLD requested that its provisional authority to provide CLEC services be cancelled due to its lack of CLEC operations.
In addition to its cancellation request, GLD filed its 2001 Annual Report for its IXC reseller operations and paid the $250 late filing penalty demanded in the Complaint. The filing of GLD's 2001 Annual Report along with the $250 late filing fee satisfies the company's annual report requirements for 2001-2002, and GLD is now current in the filing of all annual reports.
Based upon the foregoing, it is appropriate to cancel GLD's provisional authority at A-310423F0002 to provide CLEC services, and close the Formal Complaint at C-20039289 as satisfied. The Commission puts the industry on notice that we will not hesitate to invoke our authority under the Public Utility Code to ensure timely compliance with our regulations and orders, including the ordering of such other remedy as the Commission may deem appropriate. 66 Pa.C.S. §§ 504--506 and 3301. Therefore,
It Is Ordered That:
1. The allegations in Law Bureau Prosecutory Staff's Formal Complaint are deemed admitted and the Complaint is hereby sustained.
2. The provisional CLEC authority currently held by Group Long Distance, Inc. at A-310423F0002 is hereby cancelled.
3. The Formal Complaint at C-20039289 is hereby closed as satisfied.
4. The Secretary's Bureau cause a copy of this Order to be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
JAMES J. MCNULTY,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 03-691. Filed for public inspection April 11, 2003, 9:00 a.m.]
