In Re Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., LP

The issue in this case is whether the Public Utility Commission has primary jurisdiction to resolve threshold questions about the meaning and effect of certain telephone interconnection agreements between Southwestern Bell Telephone Company and the plaintiff local exchange telephone service carriers. We conclude that it does, and conditionally grant mandamus relief.

I. Background

In 1996, Congress opened local telephone service to competition by enacting the Federal Telecommunications Act (FTA). Telecommunications Act of 1996, Pub.L. No. 104-104, 110 Stat. 56. Telephone companies that provide…