47 CFR Part 69 - ACCESS CHARGES

In this document, the Commission reconsiders rules adopted in the Rate-of-Return Reform Order. Specifically, the Commission replaces the surrogate cost methods for Consumer Only Broadband Loops, revises CBOL imputation rules, and lastly, clarifies matters concerning reductions in the Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support. Further review of the record supports the adjustments, and further promotes the Commission's goals of providing certainty and stability for carriers and continued consumer access to advanced telecommunications and information services.

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 requirements associated with the Commission's Rate-of Return Reform Order . The reforms adopted in this Order require rate-of-return LECs to make tariff filings with the necessary tariff materials outside of the normal tariff filing period. This document is consistent with the Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of the rules.

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, an information collection associated with the Commission's Business Data Services Report and Order, FCC 17-43, which reformed the business data services/special access regulations for incumbent and competitive LECs. The Commission's reforms included replacing the application-based pricing flexibility rules with a new framework for determining the circumstances under which business data services will be subject to ex ante pricing regulation. The Commission amended its rules to specify that its pricing flexibility rules no longer apply to business data services. The Commission also limited the circumstances under which price cap LECs must file their business data services contracts as contract-based tariffs. This document is consistent with the Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of this rule.

The Commission invites interested parties to update the record on issues raised by the Commission in the 2011 Intercarrier Compensation (ICC) Transformation Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) regarding the network edge for traffic that interconnects with the Public Switched Telephone Network, tandem switching and transport, and transit (the non-access traffic functional equivalent of tandem switching and transport). The Commission seeks updated comment in light of regulatory and marketplace developments that have occurred since the 2011 ICC Transformation FNPRM, including the transition of certain terminating traffic to bill-and-keep, and implementation of the adopted mandate to move all traffic to bill-and-keep. The Commission also seeks comment on other developments related to those issues that should be considered in the context of further ICC reform.

In this document, a Report and Order provides a new framework for deregulating Business Data Services in areas where competitive forces are able to ensure just and reasonable rates. Acknowledging the presence of increased competition evidenced by the record in this proceeding, the Federal Communications Commission amends its rules to reflect changes in the business data services marketplace. By adopting this framework the Commission acts to further bolster competition and investment in business data services, and takes further steps to decrease the cost of broadband infrastructure deployment.

This document corrects errors in the supplementary information and final rules portions of a Federal Register document adopting 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 summary was published in the Federal Register on April 25, 2016.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopts an integrated plan to address both fixed and mobile voice and broadband service in high-cost areas of the state of Alaska, building on a proposal submitted by the Alaska Telephone Association.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission seeks comment on replacing the existing, fragmented regulatory regime applicable to business data services (BDS) ( i.e., special access services) with a new technology-neutral framework, the Competitive Market Test, which subjects non-competitive markets to tailored regulation, and competitive markets to minimal oversight.

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 Wireline Competition Bureau grants in part a request seeking an extension to the comment and reply comment deadlines in the business data services (special access proceeding, Special Access FNPRM.

In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau grants in part a request seeking an extension to the comment and reply comment deadlines in the business data services (also referred to as special access services) rulemaking proceeding, Special Access FNPRM.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission's) Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) further extends the deadlines for interested parties to submit comments and reply comments in response to Section IV.B of the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ( Special Access FNPRM ), in the special access proceeding.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission's) Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) further extends deadlines for interested parties to submit comments and reply comments in response to Section IV.B of the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ( Special Access FNPRM ), 78 FR 2600, January 11, 2013, in the special access proceeding.

The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) extends deadlines for the public to file comments and reply comments in response to the Special Access Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ( Special Access FNPRM ) until July 1, 2015 and July 22, 2015, respectively.

In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) extends the deadline for filing comments and reply comments in the Special Access Proceeding Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) regarding possible changes to the special access rules that apply to incumbent local exchange carriers that are subject to price cap regulation. This extension is necessary to allow time for the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) to collect data that will be used for a proposed one-time, multi-faceted market analysis of the special access market and for potential commenters to review the data in advance of submitting comments and replies.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) takes significant steps to continue the implementation of the 2011 universal service reforms. This document takes into account lessons learned and new marketplace developments to further the Commission's statutory mission of ensuring that all consumers have access to advanced telecommunications and information services.

In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) extends the deadline for filing comments and reply comments on section IV.B of the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the special access proceeding. This extension is necessary to allow time for the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) to collect data on the special access market prior to the submission of comments and replies.

In this document, Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding, one by Gerard J. Duffy of Blooston, Modkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Prendergrast, LLP, on behalf of Blooston Private Microwave Licenses and a second by David L. Nace, of Lukas, Nace, Gutierrez & Sachs, LLP, on behalf of Small Purchasers Coalition.

In this Report and Order, pursuant to authority delegated by the Commission in the Special Access Data Collection Order the Bureau clarifies the scope of the collection to reduce burden where doing so is consistent with our delegated authority and will not impact the Commission's ability to analyze the data; provides instructions and record format specifications for submitting information; and modifies and amends questions and definitions contained in the collection.

In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) extends the deadline for filing comments and reply comments on section IV.B of the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that was adopted on December 11, 2012 in the special access proceeding. This extension is necessary to allow time for the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) to collect data on the special access market prior to the submission of comments and replies.

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 corrects the effective date of the Report and Order adopted in FCC 12-153 and published in the Federal Register on January 11, 2013. This correction is necessary to comply with the Congressional Review Act (CRA) requirement that a major rule is effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register or 60 days after receipt by Congress of a report in compliance with the CRA, whichever is later. The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) issued an Erratum on March 11, 2013, delaying the effective date of the Report and Order (except the information collection rules and the delegation rule) to March 25, 2013. Further information is provided in the supplementary information that follows.

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 (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 3060-0298 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, April 5, 2012. OMB approved the revisions on May 29, 2012.