THE REGULATORY MIX AND BLOG ARTICLES

The next step for implementation of access reform will be to reduce terminating end office switched access rates in the preordained downward glide-path to the rate of $0.0007 per minute. In this step, the ILECs will calculate their composite terminating end office rate, and CLECs will be capped at the new ILECs rates. The terminating end office composite encompasses the following rate elements, where applicable:

For reasons too convoluted to explain, my husband and I have found ourselves to be the proud owners of 3.5 horses – two Quarter Horses, a gaited pony and a mini horse. We have had to learn to ride and care for these very large pets over the past two years.  If we had undertaken this 25 years ago, we would have learned some tips that might have saved some trial and error in child rearing, business practices, personnel management and mental health:

 

. . . .To the extent that it is optional, I can make a pretty strong case either way. Tariffs are still a great way to clearly establish the relationship between service providers and their customers. A tariff provides both parties with many protections that might be tricky to negotiate in the form of a contract. A tariff protects the carrier from certain liabilities and lawsuits. But tariffs can also be a drain on resources and a drag on product and pricing changes.

 

I am not a Luddite and do not long for the days before computers, cable TV and VoIP. But Fran Martens, one of our senior analysts, is always sure to copy me on copper land line issues. She knows I am one of those people who cares about retaining this option. My other colleagues, within TMI and outside of TMI, assure me that I just need to get used to the idea that copper wires to our homes and offices will become obsolete when voice-as-an-application over broadband is the standard. Maybe the transition will take a decade or more – but obsolescence is assured nonetheless.

Technologies Management, Inc. is pleased to announce that David J. Malfara, Sr., President and CEO of the ETC Group, LLC, will be providing a series of guest blog articles for TMI subscribers this fall. We are very excited to have Dave’s unique business, technology, and engineering perspectives in this timely commentary. We are confident that our blog readers will find the information that he shares extremely valuable.

It looks like the FCC’s effort to collect data on special access services is moving full speed ahead. Its latest focus is on the best way to protect the commercially sensitive information it wants to collect and it has asked for comments by July 29, 2013 on that topic.

The current FCC 477 filing requirement has been a big undertaking for many carriers and, as a result of new FCC requirements, is about to get BIGGER. It is unique in that it requires broadband reporting by US Census tract. It also requires reporting by VoIP providers.

This colorful basket featured on our third banner is an Imbenge Basket, a creation of the Zenzulu Hardwire Weaving Group of South Africa. The artist is Nokuthula Zulu.

The Federal Communications Commission denied a complaint alleging that a CLEC imposed excessive access charges for toll-free traffic. The FCC found that the CLEC properly applied its tariff, including using Percent of Interstate Use (PIU) factors instead of determining the actual jurisdiction of each call. The FCC dismisses another portion of the complaint on the basis that it was barred by the 2-year statute of limitations.

The Federal Communications Commission will allow lifeline-only eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) to serve a portion of the service area of a rural telephone company. The grant of forbearance applies to: (1) any ETC that has been designated by a state or the FCC and (2) pending and future requests by telecommunications carriers that seek limited designation as an ETC to participate only in the Lifeline program. The Order becomes effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Publication has not yet occurred.