The Regulatory Mix, TMI’s daily blog of telecom related regulatory activities, is a snapshot of PUC, FCC, legislative, and occasionally court issues that our regulatory monitoring team uncovers each day. Depending on their significance, some items may be the subject of a TMI Briefing.
FCC Tariff Review Plans For Broadband Loop Service
The FCC has established procedures for the filing of access charge tariffs and Tariff Review Plans by rate-of-return ILECs electing to offer broadband-only loop service beginning January 3, 2017, whether on a tariffed or detariffed basis. It includes carriers subject to either §61.38 (rate-of-return carriers that file tariffs based on projected costs and demand) or §61.39 (rate-of-return carriers that file tariffs based on historical costs and demand) of the FCC’s rules, whether they elect model-based support or Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support (CAF BLS). The Order also makes available revised Tariff Review Plan worksheets to support any necessary rate revisions. 15-day tariff filings are due December 19, 2016, to become effective January 3, 2017; 7-day tariff filings are due December 27, 2016, to be effective on January 3, 2017.
FCC Rate-of-Return Carrier Broadband Deployment
The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announced it had posted information regarding the mandatory deployment obligations that will apply to rate-of-return carriers that remain on legacy universal service support mechanisms. The information is available here. Rate-of-return carriers may select one of two methods for determining their deployment obligation which must be fulfilled over a five-year period (2017-2021). The spreadsheet provides the deployment obligation for each study area for both methods, as well as further information used for the calculations for each study area. The Bureau said it will issue a Public Notice with information regarding how each carrier will indicate the method it is selecting to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) at a later date.
Michigan Public Utility Assessments
In July 2016, the PSC opened a proceeding to consider changes to the amount of future public utility assessments to be paid by regulated entities. Interested persons have until October 14, 2016, to file petitions for leave to intervene in the proceeding. The Administrative Law Judge will conduct a prehearing conference on October 21, 2016. The PSC will read the record in this case, eliminating the need for the ALJ to prepare a proposal for decision. TMI Briefing Service subscribers see Briefings dated 10/10/16 and 7/8/16.
