The FCC declined to provide a specific standard for ONA [page 1067]computer-iii. Rather, it placed the burden for the development of Open Network Architectures on the carriers. In the event the standardization process for ONA became a process in which each of the carriers would submit an ONA plan, the FCC would rule on which aspects of the plan were acceptable and which were not, and return the plan to the carrier for revision. Several iterations of this process eventually produced a satisfactory initial plan for each carrier. In addition to FCC review, the ONA plans are subject to public comment. The FCC has taken into account numerous comments and petitions filed by parties of interest for reconsideration and/or clarification of ONA plans.
The FCC's Third Computer Inquiry directed the carriers to file initial ONA plans with the FCC by February 1, 1988. On November 17, 1988, the FCC adopted the BOC ONA Order [22]. Among other things, this order approved in part the ONA plans for each of the carriers, directed each carrier to file an amended ONA plan by May 19, 1989, and established procedures for oversight of the ongoing ONA process. On May 8, 1990, the FCC released the BOC ONA Amendment Order [24] which concluded that all the amended plans complied with the requirements of the BOC ONA Order. ONA plans for each carrier are continually being amended to reflect changes in services offered and to comply with additional requirements of the FCC.