Detariffing Initiative

Q:  What is detariffing?
A:  The FCC required that U.S. Common Carriers, including MCI Communications Services, Inc. d/b/a Verizon Business Services (Verizon Business), no longer file and maintain tariffs for state-to-state and international telecom services. This occurred on July 31, 2001, in most cases. After detariffing, state-to-state (interstate) and international tariffs no longer apply, and the agreements between carriers and their customers rely entirely on contracts between carriers and their customers. Some states have also detariffed certain services as shown in the table at this link: Table of States.

Q:  Why are tariffs important?
A:  Tariffs have historically served as the basis for creating binding rights and obligations between carriers and their customers for telecom services. 

Q:  Were all tariffs eliminated?
A:  No. Tariffs will remain in effect for certain domestic in-state (intrastate) services (depending on the state), for exchange access services, and for some state-to-state and international services including: casual calling; traditional long distance for a 45-day period for customers who sign up for Verizon Enterprise Solutions service with a Local Exchange Carrier (LEC); international inbound collect; and mobile radio services such as ship-to-shore, etc. 

Q:  What replaced the tariffs and the function they serve?
A:  Verizon Enterprise Solutions has posted on this website a document called the Service Publication and Price Guide, or Guide for short. The Guide describes Verizon Enterprise Solutions' standard service terms that will be the basis for any agreement between Verizon Enterprise Solutions and our customers. The Guide is NOT intended to be a single, comprehensive source for all service information-it is strictly a source for information and contractual terms of our products and services after detariffing. 

Q:  As a customer, how am I affected by detariffing?
A:  With respect to the FCC detariffing in 2001, the following advice was provided: If you have a signed contract or term plan agreement with Verizon Enterprise Solutions, the written agreement will apply until expiration. If you have a Special Customer Arrangement (SCA), you also receive service in accordance with your underlying contract with us-just as you always have. You will continue to receive service for the remainder of your contract term according to your agreement, which may include applicable service descriptions, definitions, terms and conditions, and pricing that appeared in FCC tariffs in effect at the time of detariffing. The relevant sections of Verizon Enterprise Solutions' final FCC tariffs have been placed in the Service Publication and Price Guide and thereby become part of your service agreement.

If you do not have a signed contract with us, or otherwise receive service under Verizon Enterprise Solutions' general tariffs, beginning August 1, 2001 you will receive service in accordance with Verizon Enterprise Solutions' Standard Business Agreement and the underlying Service Publication and Price Guide. Your continued use of service will constitute acceptance of the rates, terms and conditions contained in the Guide. Both the Standard Business Agreement and the Guide are available on this site (www.verizonbusiness.com/guide).

With respect to individual state detariffing, the following applies: If you have a signed contract with Verizon Business which includes applicable rates, terms or conditions that are detariffed, then the relevant rates, terms or conditions for the services are placed under the Service Publication and Price Guide and are thereby part of your service agreement. If you do not have a signed contract with us, the service provided will be subject to the applicable rates, terms and conditions in the Service Publication and Price Guide, and your continued use of such service will constitute acceptance of the rates, terms and conditions contained in the Guide.

With respect to both detariffed interstate and intrastate services:From time to time, Verizon Enterprise Solutions may modify the rates, terms and conditions in the Guide. Unless your agreement expressly provides to the contrary, these changes will be binding on you. They will become effective on the date indicated on the Guide, but no changes will become effective with less than 15 days website notice, except for governmental charges. 

Q:  Do the Terms and Conditions in the Guide differ from the tariffs?
A:  At the time of detariffing, there were some differences, but they were not significant. Our intention was to make our published standard terms much more streamlined and friendly than the previous tariffs and uniform across all company services. In the past, Verizon Enterprise Solutions (then MCI) offered these services through many tariffs. For consistency, a common set of definitions and terms and conditions (T&Cs) were be created and entered into all tariffs prior to detariffing; these T&Cs were then published in the Guide on the Verizon Enterprise Solutions (then MCI) website. Where intrastate services have been detariffed and put on the Guide, we have taken the same general approach to the extent allowed by state law and regulations, although specific rates may vary across the states. 

Q:  What governs my relationship with Verizon Enterprise Solutions, after detariffing?
A:  The arrangement between Verizon Enterprise Solutions and our customers will be governed in the following order of precedence: (1) by any existing tariffs that remain after detariffing (for example, specific state tariffs and others noted in the third question above); (2) by provisions in your contract that expressly apply instead of, or in addition to, provisions in the Guide: and (3) by provisions contained in the Guide. 

Q:  Are my contract terms, conditions, and rates still subject to change?
A:  Yes. We reserve the right to make modifications to the Guide from time to time, including adding new services or service features and revising terms, conditions, and rates-much as we did prior to detariffing. The primary difference is that after detariffing we will make those changes through the Guide, while before we made them through our tariffs. Unless your agreement expressly provides to the contrary, these changes will be binding on you. Changes to the Guide will become effective on the date indicated in the Guide, but no changes will become effective with less than 15 days website notice. 

Q:  What recourse do I have if you make such changes?
A:  You will have the same rights as before, as included in your written contracts and in the Guide. 

Q:  How will we be notified when changes are made to the Guide?
A:  The Guide will be available 24 hours a day, so you'll be able to learn of changes by visiting this website. Changes will be identified in a "What's New?" link on the website. When you view the Guide, new or revised material should appear on your computer screen marked to show what has changed. For subsequent monthly changes, the information appearing in "What's New?" will reflect only the changes being made that month. The Guide text for the previous month's changes will be returned to normal text. You may also register to receive an e-mail alert when the Guide is updated or modified. Click here: 

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The following notifications were provided at the time of FCC detariffing:

Q:  Has Verizon Enterprise Solutions advised customers of the detariffing initiative?
A:  Yes, in two monthly invoice inserts. In May 2001 invoices the detariffing initiative was introduced by Verizon Enterprise Solutions (known at that time as WorldCom), and in June/July 2001 invoices additional details were provided. For your convenience, a copy of both messages appears below:

Introductory Notice to Business Customers Included in May Invoices

DETARIFFING INITIATIVES UNDERWAY

A change in federal law requires that U.S. common carriers, including WorldComSM, no longer file and maintain tariffs for most of their state-to-state and international telecommunications services. This initiative, known as detariffing, is scheduled to take place on July 31, 2001, for our standard service offerings. Four our non-standard offerings (Special Customer Arrangements) we currently plan to implement detariffing prior to July 31, 2001. Please be assured there is no immediate impact on WorldCom customers, and no action is required on your part.

We will continue to keep you informed of developments. Please look for a more extensive announcement in this space in next month's invoice, when we will be able to provide additional details and guide you to a website for questions and information. Thank you for using WorldCom.

Final Notice to Business Customers Included in June/July Invoices

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO OUR CUSTOMERS REGARDING DETARIFFING

Certain changes are taking place in the regulatory arena that affect how telecommunications companies contract with their customers. This notice explains those changes. No action is required on your part. The Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") is requiring U.S. long distance companies, including those in the WorldComSM family, to cease filing and maintaining tariffs for their state-to-state and international telecommunications services ("detariffing"). Historically, tariffs have served to create binding rights and obligations between companies and their customers for telecommunications services.

To comply, WorldCom intends to cancel its FCC state-to-state and international tariffs on July 31, 2001. Beginning August 1, 2001, our contractual relationship with you will no longer rely upon these FCC tariffs. In-state services, however, will continue to be governed by state tariffs, where applicable.

All of our customers currently receive service through our tariffs or through agreements that incorporate our tariffs by reference. If you have a signed contract or term plan agreement with WorldCom, your written agreement will continue to apply until expiration. You will continue to receive service for the remainder of your contract term according to your agreement, which includes applicable product descriptions, definitions, terms and conditions, and pricing in the FCC tariffs in effect at the time of detariffing. The relevant sections of WorldCom's final FCC tariffs will become part of your service agreement and will be placed in a "Service Publication and Price Guide" ("Guide"). The Guide will be available to you twenty-four hours a day, every day on our website at www.worldcom.com.

If you do not have a signed contract or otherwise receive service under WorldCom's general tariffs, beginning August 1, 2001 you will receive service pursuant to WorldCom's Standard Business Agreement (which can be found at www.worldcom.com) and the underlying Guide. Your continued use of the service constitutes acceptance of the rates, terms and conditions contained in the Guide.

WorldCom may modify the rates, terms and conditions in the Guide from time to time. Changes to the Guide will become effective the first day of the calendar month following the date they are posted in the Guide, but no changes will be effective on less than 15 days website notice. Unless our agreement expressly provides to the contrary, these changes will be binding on you.

It is our intention to implement this transition in a way that minimizes confusion, and continues our valued relationship with you without disruption. This transition will not affect our obligations to you, and does not change your obligations to us under our agreement. Again, no action is necessary on your part. If you have any questions, please refer to the Guide and to the "Frequently Asked Questions" now available on our website at www.worldcom.com, or contact your WorldCom account representative or customer service. We look forward to continuing to serve your telecommunications and e-business needs.