The Federal Communications Commission has released the Lifeline Modernization Order makes significant revisions to the rules governing the universal service Lifeline program. Among other important changes, the order sets new minimum Lifeline service standards for voice and broadband and gradually eliminates support for standalone voice service.
On March 30, 2016, the Federal Communications Commission released a Report and Order, Order and Order on Reconsideration, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that make significant changes to the universal service rules governing rate-of-return incumbent local exchange carriers. One of the most significant changes in the order gives some, but not all, rate-of-return ILECs the option to move to cost model regulation.
The Federal Communications Commission has released a Report and Order, Order and Order on Reconsideration, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that make significant changes to the universal service rules governing rate-of-return incumbent local exchange carriers.
The FCC has imposed a $1.44 million forfeiture against interexchange carrier Preferred Long Distance, Inc. for violating the FCC’s slamming rules. Preferred LD changed the long distance telephone carriers of 14 consumers without proper authorization, including by having telemarketers engage in misrepresentation.
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas has dismissed over 35 multidistrict lawsuits brought by two interexchange carriers against hundreds of local exchange carriers concerning payments of access charges for intraMTA traffic.
The FCC has issued a clarification to the VoIP symmetry rule: the rule applies in a technology- and facilities-neutral manner, and it does not require, and has never required, an entity to use a specific technology or its own facilities in order for the service it provides to be considered the functional equivalent of end office switching.
The FCC has denied a petition filed by Sandwich Isles Communications, Inc. seeking waiver of the $250 per line per month cap on high-cost USF support for a period of ten years. The FCC concluded Sandwich Isles failed to show good cause for the waiver after determining Sandwich Isles has certain expenses that appear grossly excessive and unreasonable.
The FCC has released of a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking asking for stakeholder input on whether the existing USF contributions system should be modified or whether it should be replaced with an entirely new system. The FCC wants responses, input, proposals, and detailed data from all USF stakeholders, including contributors, potential contributors, individual consumers, business consumers, consumer advocacy groups, and state and Tribal governments.
