FCC Commissioners Michael O’Rielly and Mignon Clyburn have coauthored an article posted on the FCC’s official blog that asks whether means-testing could bring “efficiencies” to the universal service fund’s high-cost support mechanism.
Did Alexa Help Cover Up A Murder?
As part of an investigation of a possible murder, police detectives sought to obtain data from an Amazon Echo device. The case presents an excellent backdrop for examining legal issues that are arise out of the pervasive use of smart devices, the growing trend to connect everything to the Internet, and the massive amounts of data collected by Internet-connected devices.
FCC Approves New Average Schedule HCLS Formula For Second Half Of 2016
The FCC has approved the National Exchange Carrier Association’s modifications to the formula that will be used to calculate universal service high-cost loop support for average schedule rate-of-return carriers. The new HCLS average schedule formula – in effect from July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016 – produces a 3.4 percent decrease in HCLS for average schedule study areas which is due to the decrease from 11.25 percent to 11 percent in the prescribed interstate rate of return.
The FCC’s Lifeline Modernization Order
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.
The A-CAM, A Brave New World: Rate-Of-Return Carriers Have Option To Move To Cost Model Regulation
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.
A Watershed Moment: The FCC’s 2016 Rate-of-Return Reform Order
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.
FCC Issues $1.44 Million Fine For Slamming
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.
Texas Federal Court Dismisses IXCs’ IntraMTA-Lawsuits Against ILECs
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.
FCC Offers Clarification To VoIP Symmetry Rule
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.
FCC Denies Sandwich Isles USF Support Waiver Petition, Cites Unreasonable Expenses
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.