FCC established Federal-State Joint Conference on Accounting Issu...

state and federal policymakers to coordinate initiatives that would ensure that collection and exchange of regulatory accounting information was adequate and effective. Joint conference plans to begin reexamination of federal and state regulatory accounting and related reporting requirements and make recommendations for improvements, FCC said. Comr. Copps said Commission planned to put on hold all action to eliminate additional accounting requirements until joint conference completed its evaluation. However, he said “we need a prompt, pre-elimination review” of existing accounting requirements whose scheduled elimination, effective Jan. 1, 2003, Commission put in motion last year: “While several of these rules may remain good candidates for elimination, others may still be needed.” Commission sets out accounting rules called Uniform System of Accounts, which govern how ILECs record and allocate their costs and revenues for regulatory purposes. It also maintains Automated Reporting Management Information System, through which certain ILECs are required annually to report regulatory accounting information. Joint conference will include representatives of up to 5 state PUCs and will be chaired by FCC Chmn. Powell or someone he designates. All FCC commissioners may participate in joint conference, agency said. Powell said establishment of joint conference “puts in place an effective means for examining the Commission’s regulatory accounting and reporting requirements… to protect consumers and carry out our regulatory responsibilities under the Communications Act.” He said regulatory accounting data filed by telecom carriers were used by federal and state telecom policy-makers to meet various responsibilities, and Commission’s prior efforts in this area had concentrated on consolidating reporting requirements “that were unnecessary or which reflected a changed environment in the area of competition policy, broadband deployment and universal service.” Establishment of joint conference “expanded our efforts” by allowing policy-makers to work together to ensure that regulatory accounting information is adequate and truthful, he said. NARUC said it was encouraged by broad scope of review implied in FCC joint conference proposal. It said FCC should seek recommendation from conference before taking actions on any pending “Phase II” reconsideration requests or other requests that directly affect application of accounting rules and reporting requirements to particular carriers.