The FCC killed more than 120 regulatory requirements...
The FCC killed more than 120 regulatory requirements on telcos, it said Friday (http://fcc.us/13Bv8YF). The order grants forbearance for 126 of about 141 rules and requirements that USTelecom sought in its petition. Companies will no longer have to retain certain…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
records made redundant by digital databases, property record filings and calling cards record reporting, the FCC said. “In so doing, we further our commitment to eliminate burdens on industry and promote innovation while ensuring our statutory objectives are met,” the order said. “We grant forbearance to the full extent supported by the record. Where we cannot forbear from a requirement completely, we in several instances reduce burdens by granting partial or conditional forbearance.” The ruling is not intended to preempt any state rules, it added. The FCC also issued a further NPRM in which “we examine whether to retain, modify, or eliminate the comparably efficient interconnection (CEI) and open network architecture (ONA) requirements as well as the ‘All Carrier Rule,'” according to the order. It’s also adopting a second further NPRM on “whether we should modify or eliminate the separate affiliate requirement for independent incumbent LECs that are subject to rate-of-return regulation,” it said. “With 126 regulations removed, we're talking about millions of dollars in savings, which will ultimately result in a more dynamic, competitive market and lower prices for consumers,” outgoing Chairman Julius Genachowski said in a statement. The order also preserves “consumers’ right to notice when services are being eliminated, a vital protection as we move forward on trials of wireline to wireless, TDM to IP, and copper to fiber technology transitions,” Genachowski added. Commissioner Ajit Pai called the order “bipartisan compromise, an important first step,” but wished the FCC had “gone further, faster” with eliminating legacy obligations. USTelecom expressed some pleasure with the order, but the FCC “missed the opportunity for the thorough spring cleaning that has long been needed,” USTelecom President Walter McCormick said in a statement. “Given the fact that we have already gone through 15 months of study, we would expect that this further review could be completed by the end of the year.” In a Friday blog post (http://bit.ly/10KunZ7), McCormick slammed the FCC for leaving in place “Part 32 accounting rules, CEI/ONA rules and streamlining Section 214 notification requirements” and called the step “timid.” The order was adopted May 10.