by Pivot
Tag: ICC
AT&T Asks FCC to Take Action on “Nefarious” Inter-Carrier Compensation Practices
Inter-carrier compensation arbitrage opportunities still exist for traffic pumpers and the competitive local telcos that serve them, says AT&T
Consumer Complaint Leads to InContact Rural Call Completion Settlement
InContact has agreed to pay $100,000 and implement a compliance program in a rural call completion settlement.
Verizon Rural Call Completion Hotline Launched in FCC Compliance Plan
Verizon’s rural call completion hotline will give rural carriers a point of contact at the carrier to resolve issues involving calls not going through to the rural carrier
Rural Call Completion Problem Garners More Attention with New Senate Bill
Senators Klobuchar and Tester introduced a rural call completion bill that would direct the FCC to adopt “commonsense” standards for voice calls.
Comptel Rural Call Completion Reporting Protest Could Delay Implementation
In a filing with the Office of Management and Budget, Comptel said the FCC underestimated the cost of rural call completion reporting requirements.
Appeals Court Rejects Connect America Fund Challenges
An appeals court ruled against Connect America Fund challenges, which argued that the FCC overstepped its authority when it adopted the CAF order.
Telecom Advisors Say States May Have to Make Up Shortfall from CAF Reforms
States must act – and act promptly—to determine how they will address an impending shortfall in funding for rural broadband and telecom services, says Balhoff & Williams.
FCC Report Recommends Reducing Small Telco Rate of Return
A report issued by the Federal Communications Commission recommends a substantial reduction in the rate of return that the nation’s smallest telephone companies earn.
Level 3 to Pay $975,000 in Rural Call Completion Settlement
Level 3 has agreed to make a $975,000 “voluntary contribution” to the U.S. Treasury as part of the settlement of an FCC investigation into the carrier’s rural call completion practices.
NTCA: Uncertainty Drove 69% of Rural Telcos to Cancel Projects
69% of small telephone companies have postponed or canceled plans to upgrade their landline communications networks because of uncertainty about Universal Service and inter-carrier compensation reform,
NTCA Asks FCC for Clarification, Incentives on IP Interconnection
The National Telecommunications Cooperative Association is asking the FCC to confirm that carriers should pay inter-carrier compensation when they exchange telecom traffic in IP format — a move that appears driven by AT&T’s
Colorado Bill Would Phase Out State High-Cost Universal Service Fund
A proposal to phase out a statewide high-cost Universal Service program in Colorado has angered CenturyLink. A CenturyLink executive told
Dispute Arises Over Impact of FCC Reforms on Originating Access Charges
NTCA and others asked the FCC to state that all originating access charges should be treated the same, clarifying reforms made in the Connect America Fund order.
Rural Telco Associations Ask FCC to Reconsider USF Reforms
Three organizations filed a petition for reconsideration and clarification with the FCC on the Universal Service and inter-carrier compensation reform order adopted last year
Connect America Fund Order Draws Few Legal Challenges
These include challenges from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, network operator Core Telecommunications, the NTCA and (newly added to the list) AT&T.
NTCA is Latest Organization to File a Legal Challenge to USF Reform Order
The National Telecommunications Cooperative Association today became the third reported organization to challenge the FCC’s recent Universal Service and
Two Lawsuits Filed Against FCC Over Universal Service Reform Order
Two lawsuits have been filed against the FCC over its recent Universal Service and inter-carrier compensation reform order.
FCC Connect America Fund Order Clarifies Inter-Carrier Compensation, VoIP
The FCC’s Universal Service reform order, also known as the Connect America Fund Order, provides details on several mandates, including phantom traffic and VoIP
FCC Plans Workshops on PSTN Phase-out
The FCC is planning two workshops for December focusing on the transition from the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to new technologies.
Washington State Telcos File Complaint Against PAETEC for Access Avoidance
The WITA complaint asks that the WUTC not only stop PAETEC from its activities but seeks to revoke that company’s authority to operate in the state of Washington
Understanding the FCC Approach to ICC Reform
The FCC envisions at least a portion of ICC revenues being recovered through higher monthly charges to subscribers.
Stakeholders Debate Rural Call Completion Problems, Solutions at FCC
The telecom industry is having great difficulty getting to the bottom of the rural call completion problem-and addressing it will be equally complex.
FCC Announces Rural Call Completion Workshop Agenda
The workshop is scheduled for October 18th at FCC headquarters in Washington D.C. The open meeting includes representatives from across the industry, including
Former FCC Bureau Chief Advocates Immediate Phase-Out of Access Charges
Gerald Brock, a former chief of the FCC’s Common Carrier Bureau has penned a position paper calling for the immediate abolishment of the access charge system.