ORDER

The opinion filed on March 4, 2010 [597 F.3d 958] is amended as follows:

Replace the following text on [597 F.3d at 965]:

With:

Judges Schroeder and Bea vote to deny the suggestion for rehearing en banc, and Judge Tashima so recommends. All judges vote to deny the petition for panel rehearing.

The suggestion for rehearing en banc has been circulated to the full court, and no judge has requested a vote on whether to rehear the matter en banc. Fed. R.App. P. 35(b).

Petitioner's petition for panel rehearing and suggestion for rehearing en banc are denied.

No further filings will be accepted in this closed case.

BEA, Circuit Judge:

OPINION

This case involves the balance the Telecommunications Act of 1996 ("the Act") strikes between providing newer competitors access to previously monopolistic telecommunications markets, on the one hand, and encouraging and protecting infrastructure investments of older, incumbent telecommunications providers on the other. We must interpret two provisions of the Act that impose requirements on older, incumbent local exchange carriers ("incumbent LECs")—like appellant AT & T — to lease certain components of their existing infrastructure to rival newer, competitive carriers ("competitive LECs")—like intervenor Cbeyond.

First, we must determine whether 47 U.S.C. § 251(c)(2) requires an incumbent LEC to lease its "entrance facilities" (wires that connect rival telephone systems) to a competitive LEC at regulated rates when the competitor wishes to use the "entrance facility" to permit its own customers to reach customers of the incumbent LEC.

Second, we must determine whether 47 C.F.R. § 51.319(e)(2)(ii)(B) (the "DS1 Cap Rule"), which limits to ten the number of low-capacity DS1 telephone lines an incumbent LEC must lease to a competitive LEC at regulated (low) rates along certain routes, is a limitation which also applies to any route, regardless whether the competitive LEC is "impaired" as to the alternative to such low-capacity lines: the competitive LEC's own higher-capacity DS3 lines.

Properly to understand the terms used and the regulatory area into which we are about, some background would help.

BACKGROUND

A. The Telecommunications Act of 1996

Prior to 1996, local telephone service generally was provided by a local monopolist who offered services at prices regulated and imposed by a variety of governmental agencies. Such monopolist providers are commonly referred to as "incumbent local exchange carriers" or "incumbent LECs." Congress enacted the Act to deregulate the telecommunications market. See generally Verizon Comms. Inc. v. FCC, 535 U.S. 467, 475-76, 122 S.Ct. 1646, 152 L.Ed.2d 701 (2002). But, to facilitate the entry of new participants into these local markets, the Act imposes on incumbent LECs two duties relevant in this case.

Interconnection Duty at Regulated Rates.

First, the Act imposes a duty on incumbent LECs to permit "interconnection." Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 251(c)(2),1 incumbent LECs must allow the competitive LEC to link its network to that of the incumbent LEC, so that customers of the competitive LEC may place calls to customers of the incumbent LEC. Without the ability to link its network to that of the incumbent LEC, the competitive LEC would have little prospect of selling its telephone services, to say nothing of competing for the customers of the incumbent LEC. A local telephone service is of little use if it cannot connect to other local telephone users.

Lease of Network Parts at Regulated Rates.

Second, the Act imposes a duty that incumbent LECs "unbundle"2 parts of their network. Each such part of the incumbent LEC's network is a "network element". Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 251(c)(3),3 incumbent LECs must permit competitive LECs to lease, at regulated cost-based rates, parts of the incumbent's network, such as telephone wires, call exchanges, and routing systems. This provision promotes competition by allowing a competitive LEC to enter the telephone service market without having first to overcome capital barriers to entry, i.e., without having to construct, at high cost, every component necessary to operate a network. See Ill. Bell Tel. Co. v. Box, 548 F.3d 607, 609-10 (7th Cir.2008) ("Box II"). For example, a competitive LEC might enter a market by providing residential telephone service in two far-flung neighborhoods. Rather than having to lay its own wire to connect the two neighborhoods, the competitive LEC can, under § 251(c)(3), piggyback on the incumbent LEC's pre-existing network at regulated, cost-based rates. In this way, a competitive LEC may more easily and less expensively begin to establish its market presence.

However, before an incumbent LEC is obligated to lease network elements on an unbundled basis, the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") must find that a refusal to deal would "impair" competition. Section 251(d)(2) requires the FCC to determine which network elements incumbent LECs must offer to a competitive LEC on an unbundled basis. 47 U.S.C. § 251(d)(2).

Once the FCC determines that a particular network element must be offered on an unbundled basis, a competitive LEC that wishes to lease the network element must negotiate with the incumbent LEC to determine price and other terms. 47 U.S.C. § 251(c)(1). If the negotiations come to an impasse or otherwise fail to produce and agreement, the parties must submit the dispute to binding arbitration.4 The arbitrator's decision is subject to approval by the relevant state regulatory commission, usually the state public utilities commission. Id. If the parties have failed to agree on the lease price, the state regulatory commission may set a price that is "just and reasonable." Id. § 252(d)(1).

These "just and reasonable" rates must be based upon the Total Element Long Run Incremental Cost ("TELRIC") methodology. 47 C.F.R. § 51.505. The TELRIC methodology is based on what it cost the incumbent LEC to acquire the network elements; this historical cost method often results in prices that, under certain circumstances, can be highly favorable to the competitive LECs. See Verizon Communications, 535 U.S. at 489, 496-97, 122 S.Ct. 1646 (upholding 47 C.F.R. § 51.505); Box II, 548 F.3d at 609.

The FCC's attempts to implement the incumbent LEC's unbundling obligations have a long history. The first three published rules were invalidated by the courts, in part,5 and it was not until the FCC issued the Triennial Review Remand Order in 2005 (the "TRRO"), Order on Remand, In the Matter of Unbundled Access to Network Elements: Review of the Section 251 Unbundling Obligations of Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers, 20 F.C.C.R. 2533 (Feb. 4, 2005), that the FCC's rules survived judicial review, see Covad Comms. Co. v. FCC, 450 F.3d 528 (D.C.Cir.2006). Two predecessor orders, the relevant parts of which were not invalidated by courts, are relevant to our analysis and are discussed in greater detail below: the 2003 Triennial Review Order (the "TRO"),6 and the 1996 Local Competition Order (the "LCO").7

B. Procedural History

After the FCC issued the TRRO, AT & T—the incumbent LEC in California— sought to negotiate changes to its agreements with competitive LECs to bring their contracts into conformity with AT & T's now-changed obligations. After negotiations broke down, AT & T brought a consolidated arbitration proceeding before the California Public Utilities Commission ("CPUC"). CPUC issued a decision favoring the competitive LECs on several disputed issues, and AT & T filed an action in federal district court seeking to set aside four of CPUC's orders related to unbundling. Two of these orders are at issue on appeal:

1. Entrance Facilities—CPUC ordered AT & T to lease entrance facilities to competitor LECs at TELRIC rates for the purpose of interconnection. An entrance facility is a "dedicated transport" (a wire) that connects one LEC's "switch" (a computer that routes calls) to another LEC's switch. In other words, an entrance facility is the high capacity wire that links telephone networks. Entrance facilities may be used for two distinct purposes. First, a competitive LEC can use an entrance facility for interconnection— that is, to link the competitive LEC's network with that of the incumbent LEC so that the competitive LEC's customers may reach the incumbent LEC's customers. See TRRO ¶ 138-40; TRO ¶ 366-67.

Second, a competitive LEC can use an entrance facility for what the industry calls "backhauling." In the case of backhauling, the competitive LEC uses the entrance facility to permit its own customers to reach one another over the incumbent LECs network. See id.8 The following diagram illustrates the difference between interconnection and backhauling:

Under the TRRO, incumbent LECs are not obligated to offer entrance facilities on an unbundled basis under 47 U.S.C. § 251(c)(3). AT & T and the competitive LECs disputed, however, whether § 251(c)(2) obligates incumbent LECs to lease their entrance facilities to competitive LECs at TELRIC rates for the purposes of "interconnection" (i.e., for the purpose of allowing competitive LEC customers to place calls to incumbent LEC customers). CPUC concluded that § 251(c)(2) requires incumbent LECs to lease entrance facilities to competitive LECs at TELRIC rates for interconnection. On cross motions for summary judgment, the district court confirmed CPUC's arbitral order on this point, and AT & T timely appealed.

2. DS1 Transport—CPUC also ruled that the DS1 Cap Rule applies only on routes where competitive LECs are not "impaired"9 as to DS3 transport circuits. A "transport circuit" is a wire that carries telecommunications signals along "routes" between switching centers (computers that direct calls to other locations). TRRO ¶ 67. Transport circuits come in two grades relevant here: DS1 (low capacity) and DS3 (high capacity). A DS3 line can carry twenty-four times as many calls as a DS1 line but is more expensive to buy and install than DS1 lines. TRRO ¶ 129 n. 361. All parties agree that the FCC's rules cap the number of DS1 circuits competitive LECs may lease from incumbent LECs on an unbundled basis along routes where competitive LECs are not "impaired" as to higher capacity DS3 lines. Once a competitive LEC has sufficient traffic to justify leasing ten or more DS1 lines, it is economical for the competitive LEC to build, deploy, and install its own DS3 line. TRRO ¶¶ 71-73.

However, AT & T and the competitive LECs disputed whether this cap also applies to routes where the FCC had concluded that competitive LECs were "impaired" as to higher capacity DS3 lines. CPUC ruled in favor of the competitive LECs, and held that the cap did not apply along such "DS3-impaired" routes. The district court disagreed, concluding that, under the plain language of the FCC's rule, the DS1 Cap applies along all routes, and vacated the arbitral order on this point. Cbeyond filed a motion in the district court to join the action as an intervenor for the purpose of appeal.

ANALYSIS

This court reviews de novo claims of error in a district court's order determining whether an arbitrator's decision complies with FCC regulations. Verizon Cal., Inc. v. Peevey, 462 F.3d 1142, 1150 (9th Cir.2006). This court owes no deference to the arbitrator's decision. Id. The parties may not challenge the validity of any final order of the FCC, including FCC regulations, in this action. 28 U.S.C. § 2342.10

A. Access to Entrance Facilities Under 47 U.S.C. § 251(c)(2).

AT & T contends the district court erred by affirming the CPUC's arbitral order permitting competitive LECs to lease entrance facilities from incumbent LECs under 47 U.S.C. § 251(c)(2), the interconnection provision. Both the Seventh and the Eighth circuits recently rejected AT & T's position, and have concluded that FCC regulations authorize state public utilities commissions to order incumbent LECs to lease entrance facilities to competitive LECs at regulated rates for the purpose of interconnection. See Sw. Bell Tel., LP v. Mo. Pub. Serv. Comm'n, 530 F.3d 676 (8th Cir.2008) ("SWBT"); Ill. Bell Tel. Co. v. Box, 526 F.3d 1069 (7th Cir.2008) ("Box I");11 contra Michigan Bell Tel. Co. v. Lark, 597 F.3d 370 (6th Cir.2010). For the reasons that follow, we agree with the Seventh and Eighth Circuits and reject the reasoning advanced by AT & T and the Sixth Circuit in its recent 2-1 decision.

Section 251(c)(2) provides that "each incumbent local exchange carrier has the ... duty to provide, for the facilities and equipment of any requesting telecommunications carrier, interconnection with the local exchange carrier's network." 47 U.S.C. § 251(c)(2). The FCC defines interconnection as "the linking of two networks for the mutual exchange of traffic." 47 C.F.R. § 51.5. In other words, interconnection provides a way for a competitive LEC's customers to reach AT & T's customers and vice versa. Section 251(c)(2)(B) specifies that incumbent LECs must offer competitive LECs such interconnection "at any technically feasible point within the [incumbent] carrier's network." 47 U.S.C. § 251(c)(2)(B). The FCC regulation also states that incumbent LECs must provide competitive LECs with "any technically feasible method of obtaining interconnection." 47 C.F.R. § 51.321(a).

The FCC calls entrance facilities "the transmission facilities that connect competitive LEC networks with incumbent LEC networks." TRRO ¶ 136. As the term "entrance" implies, entrance facilities provide a way for a competitive LEC's calls to enter AT & T's network and reach AT & T customers, a fact that AT & T concedes. For the competitive LECs to use the entrance facilities this way is interconnection.12

That AT & T's entrance facilities can be used for a purpose besides interconnection (i.e., backhauling) does not change the result that 47 U.S.C. § 251(c)(2) mandates AT & T to provide competitive LECs access at regulated rates to its entrance facilities for interconnection. The parties disagree about the effect on this result of the FCC's finding in its TRRO that under a different subsection of the Act, § 251(c)(3),13 competitive LECs are not impaired14 in building entrance facilities and therefore that entrance facilities are not "unbundled network elements" that incumbent LECs like AT & T have a duty to provide competitive LECs for any purpose, including backhauling. TRRO ¶¶ 136-141.

As an initial matter, under general principles of statutory interpretation, the specific duty found in 47 U.S.C. § 251(c)(2) of providing interconnection facilities prevails over the general duty of providing network elements at unbundled rates, found in § 251(c)(3) (regardless whether that general unbundling duty exists as to entrance facilities). See NLRB v. A-Plus Roofing, Inc., 39 F.3d 1410, 1415 (9th Cir.1994) ("It is a well-settled canon of statutory interpretation that specific provisions prevail over general provisions.").

Moreover, as the district court found, the TRRO reinforces that the duties of incumbent LECs under 47 U.S.C. § 251(c)(2) and § 251(c)(3) are independent. The TRRO states that the FCC's finding that incumbent LECs need not lease entrance facilities as unbundled network elements under (c)(3) "does not alter the right of competitive LECs to obtain interconnection facilities pursuant to section 251(c)(2)." TRRO ¶ 140.

AT & T contends TRRO Paragraph 140 does not require incumbent LECs to offer entrance facilities at TELRIC rates because the TRRO uses the term "interconnection facilities" instead of "entrance facilities" when it refers to the right under 47 U.S.C. § 251(c)(2) that is not altered by the TRRO's determination that "entrance facilities" need not be unbundled under § 251(c)(3). First, although the FCC did not use the term "entrance facilities" in Paragraph 140, the paragraph appears in a section of the TRRO entitled "Entrance Facilities," which solely discusses the effect of the FCC's finding as to entrance facilities. Moreover, prior FCC rulings make clear that the interconnection obligation contained in § 251(c)(2) includes a duty to lease entrance facilities at TELRIC rates when such facilities will be used for the purposes of interconnection. The 1996 Local Competition Order ("LCO") broadly defined the interconnection obligation to include a duty to offer unbundled network elements at TELRIC rates:

LCO ¶ 549 (emphasis added); see also 47 C.F.R. § 51.321(a) (stating that incumbent LECs are required to offer "any technically feasible method of obtaining interconnection").

Though the LCO did not expressly state that entrance facilities were one of the "network elements" incumbent LECs were required to make available under 47 U.S.C. § 251(c)(2), the later Triennial Review Order ("TRO") expressly interpreted the LCO to impose this obligation. The TRO stated:

TRO ¶ 365. The TRO elaborated:

TRO ¶ 366. The TRO thus expressly interpreted the LCO to allow competitive LECs to lease entrance facilities or "transmission links" at TELRIC rates for the purpose of achieving interconnection. This interpretation of the LCO is reasonable and entitled to deference.15 Auer v. Robbins, 519 U.S. 452, 461, 117 S.Ct. 905, 137 L.Ed.2d 79 (1997) (An agency's interpretation of its own regulation is "controlling unless plainly erroneous or inconsistent with the regulation.").16 Moreover, AT & T's contention that the TRO's interpretation of the LCO conflicts with the terms of 47 U.S.C. § 251(c)(2) is foreclosed because AT & T cannot challenge the validity of FCC orders in this proceeding. See Jennings, 304 F.3d at 958 n. 2.

AT & T also contends CPUC's interpretation conflicts with the FCC's express findings that competitive LECs are not "impaired" as to entrance facilities. See TRRO ¶¶ 138, 139. But those FCC findings also expressly distinguished entrance facilities used for the purpose of interconnection and for backhauling. TRRO ¶¶ 138-140. In light of the different economic considerations associated with the use of entrance facilities for interconnection, on the one hand, and for backhaul, on the other, the FCC could reasonably conclude that different regulations were appropriate. Where a competitive LEC uses an interconnection facility for backhaul, only the competitive LEC benefits—both the originator and the recipient of the call are competitive LEC customers. But when the competitive LEC uses the entrance facility for interconnection, both competitor and incumbent benefit: the incumbent's customers can reach customers of the competitor, and vice versa. See generally LCO ¶ 162 ("In this situation ... each gains value from the interconnection arrangement."); TRO ¶ 367 ("Our conclusion in this respect is buttressed by the fact that the economics of dedicated facilities used for backhaul between networks are sufficiently different from transport within an incumbent LEC's network that our analysis must adequately reflect this distinction."); see also Box I, 526 F.3d at 1071 ("What's the point of specifying that [competitive] LECs cannot demand access to entrance facilities as unbundled network elements, AT & T inquires, if state commissions can turn around and require the same access at the same price anyway? The answer ... is that [competitive] LECs do not enjoy the "same" access to entrance facilities under the state commission's decision as they did before the FCC's order. Until then, [competitive] LECs could use entrance facilities for both interconnection and backhauling.").

Accordingly, we agree with the district court and hold that, under 47 U.S.C. § 251(c)(2), incumbent LECs must lease entrance facilities at TELRIC rates to competitive LECs for the purpose of interconnection.

B. Unbundled Access to DS1 Circuits Under 47 U.S.C. § 251(c)(3).

In its cross-appeal, Cbeyond contends the district court erred in vacating the CPUC's order that required incumbent LECs to grant unbundled access to an unlimited number of DS1 transport circuits along routes on which competitive LECs are impaired as to DS3 transport circuits.17 The district court concluded that the plain language of the governing regulation, 47 C.F.R. § 51.319(e)(2)(ii)(B) (the "DS1 Cap Rule"),18 limits a competitive LEC to a maximum of ten DS1 circuits along any route regardless whether the competitive LEC is impaired as to DS3 lines. We agree. Under the plain language of the regulation, the DS1 Cap Rule applies to all routes where DS1 circuits are available on an unbundled basis.

On appeal, Cbeyond contends the district court's interpretation of the DS1 Cap Rule is contrary to the FCC's findings in the earlier TRRO. Cbeyond concedes, however, that the language of the DS1 Cap Rule—47 C.F.R. § 51.319(e)(2)(ii)(B)—unambiguously limits to ten the number of DS1 circuits an incumbent LEC must offer at TELRIC rates on any route.

In general, the plain meaning of an administrative regulation controls. Webb v. Smart Document Solutions, LLC, 499 F.3d 1078, 1084 (9th Cir.2007). Plain meaning, however, is "not the end of the inquiry." Id. at 1086; see also Safe Air for Everyone v. EPA, 488 F.3d 1088, 1097 (9th Cir.2007). The plain language of a regulation does not control if "clearly expressed administrative intent is to the contrary or if such plain meaning would lead to absurd results." Id. (internal quotation marks and alterations omitted). "[T]he regulatory intent that overcomes plain language must be referenced in the published notices that accompanied the rulemaking process." Id. A rule leads to absurd results only if it would be "patently inconceivable" that the agency intended the result. Id. at 1098.

Here, there is no "clearly expressed administrative intent" in the published notices that accompanied the DS1 Cap Rule rulemaking process. Further, the DS1 Cap Rule as we read its plain text would not lead to absurd results. It is perfectly conceivable the FCC meant what it said when it limited the number of DS1 circuits that a competitive LEC can lease on routes where the competitive LEC is impaired as to a higher capacity DS3 circuit. Where a competitive LEC is so impaired, it will have access to an incumbent's DS3 circuits on an unbundled basis. Hence, it would be more economical for the competitive LEC to lease a single DS3 line from the incumbent LEC, rather than eleven or more DS1 lines at greater cost. TRRO ¶ 128 ("This is consistent with the pricing efficiencies of aggregating traffic. While a DS3 circuit is capable of carrying 28 uncompressed DS1 channels, the record reveals that it is efficient for a carrier to aggregate traffic at approximately 10 DS1s."). The FCC expressly found that once a competitive LEC could aggregate sufficient traffic, the DS3 rules should apply: "When a carrier aggregates sufficient traffic on DS1 facilities such that it effectively could use a DS3 facility, we find that our DS3 impairment conclusions should apply." Id.

It is hardly "patently inconceivable" that the FCC intended the DS1 cap to apply on all routes, even those where competitive LECs are impaired as to DS3 circuits. In such circumstance, the competitive LEC can obtain more economical DS3 circuits, and there is no reason why the FCC would have intended to permit competitive LECs to impose greater costs on incumbent LECs by allowing unlimited leases of DS1 circuits.

Cbeyond's contention that the DS1 Cap Rule conflicts with the terms of 47 U.S.C. § 251(c)(3) is foreclosed because Cbeyond cannot challenge the validity of the FCC orders in this proceeding. See Jennings, 304 F.3d at 958 n. 2.

Accordingly, we agree with the district court and hold that, under the plain language of the regulation, the DS1 Cap Rule limits to ten the number of DS1 lines an incumbent LEC must lease to a competitive LEC at TELRIC rates on all routes.

CONCLUSION

For the all of the foregoing reasons, we affirm the district court's order confirming in part and vacating in part the CPUC's arbitral order.

AFFIRMED.