Ohio regulators created a new class of telecom carrier to grant I...
Ohio regulators created a new class of telecom carrier to grant Intrado Communications statewide operating authority to provide 911 services in competition with incumbent telcos. In December Intrado sought a competitive carrier certificate. Incumbents objected that Intrado doesn’t qualify…
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under state law because it wouldn’t be offering basic exchange service to the public (Case 07-1199-TP-ACE). They said Intrado didn’t fit the statutory standard qualifying it for interconnection, collocation or UNE access provided to legitimate competitive carriers. Intrado said that the incumbents were using specious arguments to create a barrier to competitive 911 providers, and that it has operating authority in 38 other states. To avoid a snarl of lawsuits, the Public Utilities Commission created a new competitive-carrier subclass -- competitive emergency services telecom carrier -- and granted the first certificate in this subclass to Intrado. The PUC concluded that while Intrado is a telecom carrier under Section 251, “its telephone exchange activities are restricted in scope and, thus, do not extend to the level of a CLEC.” The PUC said Intrado can’t discriminate within its restricted class of customers and must serve the entire area covered by a county 911 authority, not simply selected public safety answering points. The PUC directed 911 authorities in the state’s 88 counties to amend their 911 plans so they can use a 911 carrier other than the incumbent telco. The PUC also said Intrado must file its contracts with the state 911 coordinator within 30 days of signing. Intrado needs PUC approval before terminating service or exiting the market. The PUC said Intrado’s competitive authority doesn’t extend to “reverse 911” services that place outbound emergency notification calls. The PUC previously ruled reverse 911 noncompetitive. It said it will consider on a case-by-case basis Intrado requests to provide reverse 911 capability at cost-based rates.