THE REGULATORY MIX AND BLOG ARTICLES

The Nebraska PSC has revised its rules governing the collection and remittance of the Telephone Relay System (TRS) and Enhanced Wireless 911 (wireless E-911) charges. The changes to the TRS rules require that: 

The Nebraska Public Service Commission adopted quality of service rules for intrastate toll calls. The rules apply to all IXCs and LECs. They prohibit carriers from engaging in any practice, including blocking, choking, reducing, or otherwise restricting telecommunications traffic to particular locations in an unjust or unreasonable manner. The rules must be approved by the Attorney General and the Governor before they can become effective. A follow-up Bulletin will be sent when an effective date is available.

The Nebraska Public Service Commission has established documentation requirements for the July 2013, ICC/USF reform tariff filings. All local exchange carriers that need to revise their access rates must file revised tariffs by June 21, 2013. However, the PSC “encourages” carriers to voluntarily file access tariffs on or before May 9, 2013, to allow the PSC to review the tariff changes earlier. Carriers that have no need to revise their access tariffs because their rates are already compliant with FCC rules must file a written notice explaining why their current rates are compliant by June 1, 2013. Carriers that do not charge other carriers for intrastate access must also provide written notice to the PSC by June 1, 2013. Tariffs should have an effective date of July 1, 2013. The PSC previously issued an Index of all LECs authorized to provide telecommunications services in Nebraska that includes a docket number which will be used to track and identify filings and documentation received by the PSC. All carriers must reference their applicable indexed docket number in their filings.