THE REGULATORY MIX AND BLOG ARTICLES

Technologies Management, Inc. is hosting the half-day Workshop at COMPTEL PLUS in Orlando on Thursday, September 26, 2013, Strategies for Striking the Right Balance with VoIP.  The workshop is FREE (registration is not required) and is focused on regulatory requirements, compliance, and related business strategies for providers of VoIP services.  “We are standing at the point where various services are transitioning to IP technology, including cable digital phone, mobile and landline telephony. Questions have arisen about how traditional regulatory models apply to these services,” said Connie Wightman, president of TMI.

If you have been anxiously anticipating the OMB approval and filing due date for the new FCC High Cost/Lifeline annual report Form 481, we have it at last! October 15, 2013. Are you currently an FCC-approved ETC providing High Cost/Lifeline services? Don’t forget the requirements of each state. Even though we have a due date for the FCC Form 481, telecom companies/ETCs cannot rest on their laurels. Some states just want copies, but you have to file under specific dockets. Some states require copies and additional state information. Others want something else entirely, and every state has a different due date that may or may not coincide with the FCC due date.

Any revisions to the May 1, 2013 499Q (projecting Q3 revenues) must be filed with USAC no later than June 15. If you discover an error in the 499Q and fail to revise it within this 45 day timeframe, the Federal USF invoices for Q3 will reflect the original 499Q filing and (with very limited exceptions) must be paid in full to avoid red light status and costly late payment penalties. 

Other than an appeal to USAC or the FCC (which generally aren't successful), the only way to correct an error after the 45 day revision deadline is through next year's April 1st 499A, when you file actual 2013 revenues. Keep in mind that the 499A true up methodology includes an implicit penalty for over or under projections made on the 499Qs.  Bottom line -- be as accurate as possible when filing projected revenues on the 499Q and fix any errors within the 45 day revision period.