TELECOM
FCC
NAL
The FCC issued a $1,588,988 Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture to Advanced Tel, Inc., (ATI) a California IXC, for failing to make required payments to the Universal Service Fund (USF), Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund, Local Number Portability (LNP) administration, and federal regulatory fees. ATI also failed to timely file its FCC Form 499-Q. The FCC found that ATI was apparently liable for:
Cable Inflation Adjustment
The FCC announced that the third quarter 2014 Inflation Adjustment Figures for cable operators that use FCC Form 1240 is 1.42%. The adjustment factor is a measure of the annualized change in prices occurring over the period from July 1, 2014, to September 30, 2014. FCC rules give regulated cable operators the option of filing for rate adjustments on an annual basis instead of quarterly. Form 1240, Annual Updating Of Maximum Permitted Rates For Regulated Cable Services, is used for this purpose.
Iowa
The Iowa Utilities Board is seeking comment on a new subrule intended to give guidance about Board expectations when a change in corporate ownership or control involves at least one carrier with an ETC designation. The Board drafted the rule to address the types of transactions that are most likely to involve ETC designations. This includes ILEC transactions, Lifeline-only ETC transactions, and when a non-ETC acquires an ETC. The rule also addresses how ETC designations can be expanded or amended to include newly acquired service areas. Comments are due by February 2, 2015.