Telcos Back FCC Clarification Upholding TRS Fund Line-Item Fees; Enterprise Group Opposed
Telecom parties urged the FCC to ensure carrier telecom relay service fund costs can be passed on to consumers through specific related fees. AT&T, CenturyLink, CTIA and USTelecom filed comments supporting an ITTA petition asking the commission for a declaratory…
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ruling to clarify that it is and has been permissible under truth-in-billing rules and Communications Act Section 225 for carriers recovering TRS fund contribution costs to include related line-item fees on consumer bills. "Such action will provide regulatory certainty regarding a common and pro-consumer industry practice," CTIA said. But 16 "Enterprise Users Commenters" -- including 3M, Mastercard, Office Depot and Sears -- urged the FCC to deny the petition, which they said should have been filed as a petition for rulemaking and is substantively deficient. Comments were posted Tuesday in docket 03-123.