47 CFR Part 51, Subpart C - Obligations of All Local Exchange Carriers

Petitions for Reconsideration and Clarification (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's rulemaking proceeding by David Springe and David C. Bergmann, on behalf of NASUCA, and Kathy D. Smith, on behalf of NTIA.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) initiated this rulemaking in August 2015 to help guide and accelerate the transitions from networks based on TDM circuit-switched voice services running on copper loops to all-IP multi-media networks using copper, co-axial cable, wireless, and fiber as physical infrastructure. In this Second Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration, we take several actions aimed at stripping away anachronistic rules while ensuring that competition continues to thrive and consumers are protected during technology transitions.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopts significant reforms to place the universal service program on solid footing for the next decade to “preserve and advance” voice and broadband service in areas served by rate-of-return carriers.

The Federal Communications Commission published a document in the Federal Register of March 24, 2016 announcing that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection requirements. This document corrections the DATES section.

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection associated with the Commission's network change disclosure rules pertaining to copper retirement notices. This document is consistent with the Emerging Wireline Networks and Services (EWNS) Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 15-97, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those rules.

The Commission initiated this rulemaking in January 2015 to help guide and accelerate the technological revolutions that are underway involving the transitions from networks based on TDM circuit-switched voice services running on copper loops to all-IP multi-media networks using copper, co-axial cable, wireless, and fiber as physical infrastructure. This rulemaking and order on reconsideration is only one of a series of Commission actions to protect core values and ensure the success of these technology transitions. In this item, we take steps to ensure that competition continues to thrive and to protect consumers during transitions. These steps will help to ensure that the technology transitions continue to succeed.

In this document, the Commission takes further action on a rulemaking it initiated in January 6, 2015, to help guide and accelerate the technological revolutions that are underway involving the transitions from networks based on TDM circuit-switched voice services running on copper loops to all-IP multi-media networks using copper, co-axial cable, wireless, and fiber as physical infrastructure. This Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) is only one of a series of Commission actions to protect core values and ensure the success of these technology transitions. In this FNPRM, we take steps to ensure that competition continues to thrive and to protect consumers during transitions. These steps will help to ensure that the technology transitions continue to succeed.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau clarifies certain rules related to the implementation of the intercarrier compensation transition for rate-of-return local exchange carriers adopted in the USF/ICC Transformation Order. Specifically, the Bureau clarifies the Commission's rules governing Eligible Recovery calculations to address limited unanticipated results of the application of the true-up process evidenced by the rate-of-return carriers' 2014 annual access tariff filings.

In this document, the Commission amends procedural rules to require electronic filing through the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) for three common types of wireline proceedings: applications for authorization of domestic transfers of control; applications for authorization to discontinue, reduce, or impair a service; and notices of network changes. The rules establish three electronic inboxes within ECFS to handle the initial filing of the above-identified applications and notices, which have previously been filed only on paper. Accepted applications and notices will receive a distinct ECFS docket number. The Commission expects to continue to expand capabilities for online filing and intends to work toward the goal of providing such capabilities for every type of filing that the public might submit.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) initiates a rulemaking seeking public comment on: Ensuring reliable back-up power for consumers of IP-based voice and data services across networks that provide residential fixed service that substitutes for and improves upon the kind of traditional telephony used by people to dial 911; protecting consumers by ensuring they are informed about their choices and the services provided to them when carriers retire legacy facilities ( e.g., copper networks) and seek to discontinue legacy services ( e.g., basic voice services); and protecting competition where it exists today, so that the mere change of a network facility or discontinuance of a legacy service does not deprive small- and medium-sized businesses, schools, libraries, and other enterprises of the ability to choose the kinds of innovative services that best suit their needs. The proposed rules and the comment process that follows will help the Commission ensure that the fundamental values of competition, consumer protection, public safety, and national security are not lost merely because technology changes.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau clarifies and amends certain provisions of the Commission's new rules relating to intercarrier compensation transformation reforms adopted in the USF/ICC Transformation Order.

This document announces the approval of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for information collection requirements in the sections outlined in the DATES section.

The Report and Order eliminates comparably efficient interconnection (CEI) and open network architecture (ONA) narrowband reporting requirements applicable to the Bell Operating Companies (BOCs). These requirements have been in place to monitor the BOCs' compliance with access and interconnection services that they must offer to competitive enhanced service providers (ESPs). The Commission no longer relies on the reports in the course of its decision making, and there is nothing in the record indicating that the reports contain information that is useful to ESPs. Eliminating them will improve the way the Commission collects, uses, and disseminates data, including by altering or eliminating collections that are no longer useful or necessary to carry out our statutory responsibilities.

In this Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Further Notice), the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) seeks comment on how to streamline or eliminate legacy regulations contained in the Computer Inquiry proceedings and that are applicable to the Bell Operating Companies (BOCs). The FNPRM: Seeks data on the changing market for narrowband enhanced services, in particular, the extent to which enhanced service providers (ESPs) continue to need access to the BOCs' basic network transmission services offered through comparably efficient interconnection (CEI) and open network architecture (ONA) services; proposes eliminating CEI requirements and seeks comment on whether to retain only limited ONA inputs that ESPs require in areas where there are no competitive alternatives; and seeks comment on the need for the continuing application of the All-Carrier Rule that requires non-BOC incumbent local exchange carriers (LECs) to offer non-discriminatory access to basic network services for unaffiliated ESPs.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau clarifies and corrects certain provisions of the Commission's rules in response to recent petitions and other requests for clarification or correction of the new rules adopted as part of Universal Service Fund intercarrier compensation transformation reforms and also grants a limited waiver of the Commission's rules to address administrative concerns and rule inconsistencies.

This document makes a number of nonsubstantive, editorial or conforming revisions to the Commission's rules. These revisions are made to delete certain rule provisions that are without current legal effect or are otherwise obsolete. They are also made to clarify, simplify, and harmonize Commission rules, making the rules more readily accessible to the public and avoiding potential confusion for interested parties and Commission staff alike. In addition to deleting balance sheet account instructions that are now obsolete, as well as references to rules that have previously been deleted, this document deletes and amends rules that refer to unbundled network elements that are no longer subject to unbundling as a result of decisions in the Triennial Review proceedings or expired transition periods.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission revises and clarifies certain provisions of its rules relating to the transition of intrastate switched access rates and the operation of the transitional recovery mechanism that were adopted in the USF/ICC Transformation Order. The Commission also grants a number of limited waivers of the Commission's rules to address administrative concerns and rule inconsistencies.

The Federal Communications Commission published in the Federal Register of May 29, 2012, a document that reconsiders and modifies certain provisions of the Commission's rules that were adopted in the USF/ICC Transformation Order. This final rule correction states that the amendments made to 47 CFR part 51 shall be effective on July 13, 2012, and, the amendments made to 47 CFR part 54 shall be effective on June 28, 2012.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of 3 years, revisions to an information collection associated with the Commission's Connect America Fund, Report and Order ( Order ). The Commission submitted revisions to this information collection under control number 3060-0400 to OMB for review and approval, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), 77 FR 20629, on April 5, 2012. OMB approved the revisions on May 17, 2012.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission reconsiders and modifies certain provisions of its rules that were adopted in the USF/ICC Transformation Order. The Commission grants a Petition for Reconsideration and Clarification of the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc., Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies and Western Telecommunications Alliance. The Commission grants in part and denies in part a Petition for Reconsideration filed by the Independent Telephone & Telecommunications Alliance and a Petition for Reconsideration and/or Clarification filed by Frontier Communications Corp. and Windstream Communications, Inc. Finally, the Commission denies a Petition for Reconsideration filed by the United States Telecom Association.

The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) published in the Federal Register of May 8, 2012, a document announcing the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of information collections associated with the Commission's; Connect America Fund; A National Broadband Plan for Our Future; Establishing Just and Reasonable Rates for Local Exchange Carriers; High-Cost Universal Service Support, Report and Order, ( Order ), released on November 18, 2011. That notice was consistent with the Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those rules once it receives OMB approval. This document corrects information in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of that document.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection associated with the Commission's Connect America Fund; A National Broadband Plan for Our Future; Establishing Just and Reasonable Rates for Local Exchange Carriers; High-Cost Universal Service Support, Report and Order , ( Order ), released on November 18, 2011. The Commission submitted revisions to information collections under control number 3060-0986 to the OMB for review and approval, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), 77 FR 13320, March 6, 2012, which were approved by the OMB on April 16, 2012. This notice is consistent with the Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those rules once it receives OMB approval. This document also notifies Eligible Telecommunications Carriers and other stakeholders that information filed pursuant to § 54.313(a)(2) through (a)(6) and (h) of the Commission's rules must be filed by July 2, 2012.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission clarifies certain rules. This document also modifies certain initial filing deadlines required to comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act requirements, and finds good cause to delete certain rules that are now obsolete.