MCI: Traffic Routing Through Canada 'Legal And Commonplace'

AT&T's objection was prompted by recent allegations that claim Ashburn, Va.-based MCI was rerouting traffic through Canada to avoid high access charges.

AT&T. Bedmister, N.J., and others have claimed that they had to pick up these charges as calls were terminated on their networks in the United States.

In a filing today with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, MCI said AT&T's objection filing "is baseless and designed to delay and derail MCI's reorganization efforts."

MCI also said that an internal analysis, conducted by law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, has determined that its call termination practices comply with legal and regulatory requirements, adding that AT&T claims against MCI for allegedly rerouting traffic were made "solely for competitive gain."

MCI's filing called AT&T's claims false and asked the court to dismiss AT&T's objections.

MCI claims that a contract with Onvoy, Plymouth, Minn., which provides least cost routing services, was "completely legal and commonplace" in its practice of routing domestic traffic through Canada. MCI said that AT&T has publicly confirmed that it engaged in the same types of arrangements.