The_Mix_logo3.pngThe 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 Briefing.

PCIA 

The Personal Communications Industry Association (PCIA) is changing its name to the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA), announced President and CEO Jonathan Adelstein, at the  opening session of the group’s annual conference in Dallas, TX.  “We consider it a historic announcement,” he told a packed house.  “You’re no longer at the PCIA show.  This is a big change for the association.  This name really better captures the focus of what we’re doing.” WIA Press Release

 

Access Filings

Many state regulatory commissions, including IN, IA, KS, MD, MI, NE, OH, and PA, have already issued reminders establishing deadlines for 2016 tariff filings to implement the next phase of the FCC’s ICC/USF reform.  Pursuant to the FCC’s 2011 Order (FCC 11-161) effective July 1, 2016, all price cap ILECs (and CLECs that benchmark to them) must reduce their intrastate terminating switched end office rates and reciprocal compensation to $0.0007.  All rate-of-return ILECs (and CLECs that benchmark to them) must reduce intrastate terminating switched end office rates and reciprocal compensation to $0.005.  The FCC benchmark rule provision allows CLECs that benchmark their rates to underlying local exchange carriers’ rates additional time to file proposed tariff revisions.

Previous TMI Briefings regarding access revisions:

IA, 5/9/16

KS, 4/15/16

MD, 5/24/16

MI, 5/24/16

NE, 5/16/16

OH, 5/5/16

PA, 4/22/16

 

Maine 

The PUC opened an investigation into the failure by FairPoint Communications-NNE  to meet two Provider of Last Resort Service Quality Index benchmarks for the first quarterly reporting period (Q1) of 2016.  The PUC consolidated the investigation of FairPoint’s Q1 2016 results into the current investigation for the prior six quarters.

 

Washington

 

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission adopted an all services overlay plan for 360 area code relief.  A new area code, 564, will be implemented in the 360 number plan area (NPA).  Telecommunications service providers with number resources in western Washington (206, 253, 360, and 425 NPAs) must work with Staff on the technical deployment, customer education, and community involvement needed to ensure successful implementation of the 564 NPA. TMI Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 5/23/16.

 

 

Contact Us About Access Reduction Filings text

 

 

  

VoIP Numbering Process Assistance

 

 

Telecom Regulatory Compliance Checklist for Startups - Small