FCC Revises Tariff Review Plans For Broadband Loop Service
The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) has reconsidered a portion of its Order establishing procedures for the filing of access charge tariffs and Tariff Review Plans (TRPs) for rate-of-return LECs electing to offer Broadband-only Loop Service beginning January 3, 2017, whether on a tariffed or detariffed basis. See the Regulatory Mix dated 10/12/16. Specifically, the Bureau has reconsidered its conclusions as to whether an amount equal to the Access Recovery Charge (ARC) assessed on voice/broadband offerings need be imputed on rate-of-return LEC retail broadband Internet access offerings. It now concludes that an amount equal to the ARC assessed on voice/broadband lines must be imputed on rate-of-return LEC retail broadband Internet access offerings, when the rate-of-return LEC is providing tariffed or detariffed Consumer Broadband-only Loops to affiliated entities, or to third parties. The Bureau said that imputing an amount equal to the ARC assessed on voice/broadband lines regardless of how the service is sold will more closely maintain the balance between ARC recovery and CAF ICC recovery. It also prevents ARC imputations from skewing decisions a rate-of-return LEC may make as to whether to offer retail broadband Internet access service through an affiliate or through its own operations.