THE REGULATORY MIX AND BLOG ARTICLES

FCC To Consider Rules For The IP Transition

Posted by Amy Gross

At its November 21, 2014, Open Meeting the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking to update some of its rules to reflect the shift from TDM-based networks to IP-based networks. According to the FCC’s News Release, the NPRM will address three main areas: preserving competition when a legacy service is discontinued; ensuring there is notice of removal or replacement of legacy services; and protecting consumer’s ability to reach 911 during a power outage. The FCC also adopted a declaratory ruling clarifying when carriers must seek approval to discontinue a service. The NPRM apparently is the proposal referred to by FCC Chairman Wheeler in his October 31, 2014, blog. See the Regulatory Mix dated 11/3/14 .

Preserving competition when a legacy service is discontinued: The FCC recognizes that small and medium-sized businesses, schools, hospitals, and other government institutions often rely on services delivered by competitive broadband and phone providers. However, these providers may be unable to reach these same customers if incumbent carriers withdraw certain “last mile” services.  Accordingly, the NPRM:

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Topics: FCC, The Regulatory Mix, IP Transition, 911, broadband, regulatory monitoring, copper infrastructure

July means more than access tariff changes. Are you ready?

Posted by Ann-Marie Kemp

July has become well known (and dreaded by many) in the telecom industry for its annual access filing deadlines. Of course, this year is no different as carriers position themselves to implement the first phase of their mandatory access reductions toward $0.0007. (See TMI Blog posting Further Switched Access Reductions Effective July 1, 2014 posted 4/1/14).

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Topics: USF, TRS, 911, regulatory monitoring, NANPA, state invoice

The Regulatory Mix - Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Posted by Amy Gross

The Regulatory Mix, TMI’s daily blog of 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 Regulatory Bulletin.

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Topics: FCC, The Regulatory Mix, regulatory monitoring, New Mexico

The Regulatory Mix - Monday, November 4, 2013

Posted by Amy Gross

The Regulatory Mix, TMI’s daily blog of 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 Regulatory Bulletin.

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Topics: FCC, The Regulatory Mix, regulatory monitoring

FCC is OPEN! Suspension of FCC Filing Deadlines

Posted by Amy Gross

Here is the announcement straight from the FCC!

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Topics: FCC, regulatory consulting, telecom regulation, regulatory monitoring

FCC Releases Two Orders Affecting Inmate Calling Service Providers

Posted by Amy Gross

The FCC released the text of its Order limiting interstate inmate calling service rates. The rules adopting interim rate caps and prohibiting call blocking for lack of billing relationship will be effective 90 days after Federal Register publication. The mandatory data collection requirements and the annual reporting and certification requirements need Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval and will be effective immediately on announcement in the Federal Register of OMB’s approval.

The Order requires inmate phone providers to charge cost-based rates to inmates and their families and establishes “safe-harbor” rates at or below which rates will be treated as lawful unless the FCC issues a finding to the contrary. A provider’s rates will be presumptively lawful if: (1) none of the provider’s rates for collect calling exceed $0.14 per minute at any correctional institution, and (2) none of the provider’s rates for debit calling, prepaid calling, or prepaid collect calling exceed $0.12 per minute at any correctional institution. A provider’s rates will be considered consistent with this requirement if the total charge for a 15-minute call, including any per-call or per-connection charges, does not exceed the appropriate rate in (1) or (2) for a 15-minute call. In addition, the FCC set an interim hard cap on ICS providers’ rates of $0.21 per minute for interstate debit, prepaid calling and prepaid collect calls, and $0.25 per minute for collect interstate calls. A provider’s rates will be considered consistent with this requirement if the total charge for a 15-minute call, including any per-call or per-connection charges, does not exceed $3.75 for a 15-minute call using collect calling, or $3.15 for a 15-minute call using debit calling, prepaid calling, or prepaid collect calling.

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Topics: FCC, Inmate Calling Services, regulatory monitoring

The FCC and the Government Shut-down Plan

Posted by Amy Gross

The FCC has announced its plan for an orderly shut-down if there is a lapse of Congressional appropriations effective October 1, 2013. The FCC said that during a shutdown all FCC activities other than those immediately necessary for the protection of life or property will cease. Suspended activities include, among many others: consumer complaint and inquiry phone lines; consumer protection and local competition enforcement; licensing services, including broadcast, wireless, and wireline; management of radio spectrum and the creation of new opportunities for competitive technologies and services; and equipment authorizations.

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Topics: FCC, regulatory monitoring

FCC Plans 2nd Technology Transition Policy Task Force Workshop

Posted by Amy Gross

The FCC’s Technology Transitions Policy Task Force announced it will hold a second workshop on IP Transition issues on Tuesday, October 15, 2013.  The workshop will focus on the consumer and competitive impacts of two key technology transitions: (1) the replacement of copper-based networks with fiber; and (2) the shift from wireline services toward greater use of wireless services.  The workshop will solicit data and analysis on the potential effects on residential and business consumers as well as the competitive marketplace when providers retire or discontinue copper-based services and replace them with IP-based fiber and/or wireless service.

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Topics: copper wireline, regulatory monitoring, fcc technology transition policy task force

The Regulatory Mix - Monday, September 16, 2013

Posted by Fran Martens

The Regulatory Mix, TMI’s daily blog of 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 Regulatory Bulletin.

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Topics: The Regulatory Mix, Pennsylvania, California, regulatory monitoring, New York

The Regulatory Mix - Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Posted by Fran Martens

The Regulatory Mix, TMI’s daily blog of 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 Regulatory Bulletin.

Read More
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Topics: The Regulatory Mix, ETC, Lifeline, regulatory monitoring, FCC Forms

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FCC To Consider Rules For The IP Transition

Posted by Amy Gross

At its November 21, 2014, Open Meeting the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking to update some of its rules to reflect the shift from TDM-based networks to IP-based networks. According to the FCC’s News Release, the NPRM will address three main areas: preserving competition when a legacy service is discontinued; ensuring there is notice of removal or replacement of legacy services; and protecting consumer’s ability to reach 911 during a power outage. The FCC also adopted a declaratory ruling clarifying when carriers must seek approval to discontinue a service. The NPRM apparently is the proposal referred to by FCC Chairman Wheeler in his October 31, 2014, blog. See the Regulatory Mix dated 11/3/14 .

Preserving competition when a legacy service is discontinued: The FCC recognizes that small and medium-sized businesses, schools, hospitals, and other government institutions often rely on services delivered by competitive broadband and phone providers. However, these providers may be unable to reach these same customers if incumbent carriers withdraw certain “last mile” services.  Accordingly, the NPRM:

Read More
0 Comments | View Comments

Topics: FCC, The Regulatory Mix, IP Transition, 911, broadband, regulatory monitoring, copper infrastructure

July means more than access tariff changes. Are you ready?

Posted by Ann-Marie Kemp

July has become well known (and dreaded by many) in the telecom industry for its annual access filing deadlines. Of course, this year is no different as carriers position themselves to implement the first phase of their mandatory access reductions toward $0.0007. (See TMI Blog posting Further Switched Access Reductions Effective July 1, 2014 posted 4/1/14).

Read More
0 Comments | View Comments

Topics: USF, TRS, 911, regulatory monitoring, NANPA, state invoice

The Regulatory Mix - Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Posted by Amy Gross

The Regulatory Mix, TMI’s daily blog of 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 Regulatory Bulletin.

Read More
0 Comments | View Comments

Topics: FCC, The Regulatory Mix, regulatory monitoring, New Mexico

The Regulatory Mix - Monday, November 4, 2013

Posted by Amy Gross

The Regulatory Mix, TMI’s daily blog of 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 Regulatory Bulletin.

Read More
0 Comments | View Comments

Topics: FCC, The Regulatory Mix, regulatory monitoring

FCC is OPEN! Suspension of FCC Filing Deadlines

Posted by Amy Gross

Here is the announcement straight from the FCC!

Read More
0 Comments | View Comments

Topics: FCC, regulatory consulting, telecom regulation, regulatory monitoring

FCC Releases Two Orders Affecting Inmate Calling Service Providers

Posted by Amy Gross

The FCC released the text of its Order limiting interstate inmate calling service rates. The rules adopting interim rate caps and prohibiting call blocking for lack of billing relationship will be effective 90 days after Federal Register publication. The mandatory data collection requirements and the annual reporting and certification requirements need Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval and will be effective immediately on announcement in the Federal Register of OMB’s approval.

The Order requires inmate phone providers to charge cost-based rates to inmates and their families and establishes “safe-harbor” rates at or below which rates will be treated as lawful unless the FCC issues a finding to the contrary. A provider’s rates will be presumptively lawful if: (1) none of the provider’s rates for collect calling exceed $0.14 per minute at any correctional institution, and (2) none of the provider’s rates for debit calling, prepaid calling, or prepaid collect calling exceed $0.12 per minute at any correctional institution. A provider’s rates will be considered consistent with this requirement if the total charge for a 15-minute call, including any per-call or per-connection charges, does not exceed the appropriate rate in (1) or (2) for a 15-minute call. In addition, the FCC set an interim hard cap on ICS providers’ rates of $0.21 per minute for interstate debit, prepaid calling and prepaid collect calls, and $0.25 per minute for collect interstate calls. A provider’s rates will be considered consistent with this requirement if the total charge for a 15-minute call, including any per-call or per-connection charges, does not exceed $3.75 for a 15-minute call using collect calling, or $3.15 for a 15-minute call using debit calling, prepaid calling, or prepaid collect calling.

Read More
0 Comments | View Comments

Topics: FCC, Inmate Calling Services, regulatory monitoring

The FCC and the Government Shut-down Plan

Posted by Amy Gross

The FCC has announced its plan for an orderly shut-down if there is a lapse of Congressional appropriations effective October 1, 2013. The FCC said that during a shutdown all FCC activities other than those immediately necessary for the protection of life or property will cease. Suspended activities include, among many others: consumer complaint and inquiry phone lines; consumer protection and local competition enforcement; licensing services, including broadcast, wireless, and wireline; management of radio spectrum and the creation of new opportunities for competitive technologies and services; and equipment authorizations.

Read More
0 Comments | View Comments

Topics: FCC, regulatory monitoring

FCC Plans 2nd Technology Transition Policy Task Force Workshop

Posted by Amy Gross

The FCC’s Technology Transitions Policy Task Force announced it will hold a second workshop on IP Transition issues on Tuesday, October 15, 2013.  The workshop will focus on the consumer and competitive impacts of two key technology transitions: (1) the replacement of copper-based networks with fiber; and (2) the shift from wireline services toward greater use of wireless services.  The workshop will solicit data and analysis on the potential effects on residential and business consumers as well as the competitive marketplace when providers retire or discontinue copper-based services and replace them with IP-based fiber and/or wireless service.

Read More
0 Comments | View Comments

Topics: copper wireline, regulatory monitoring, fcc technology transition policy task force

The Regulatory Mix - Monday, September 16, 2013

Posted by Fran Martens

The Regulatory Mix, TMI’s daily blog of 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 Regulatory Bulletin.

Read More
0 Comments | View Comments

Topics: The Regulatory Mix, Pennsylvania, California, regulatory monitoring, New York

The Regulatory Mix - Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Posted by Fran Martens

The Regulatory Mix, TMI’s daily blog of 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 Regulatory Bulletin.

Read More
0 Comments | View Comments

Topics: The Regulatory Mix, ETC, Lifeline, regulatory monitoring, FCC Forms

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