Telco Divisions Persist Over FCC Rural Call Completion Rules, Possible Replacement
Large and small telcos sparred further over whether the FCC should scrap (see 1708290015) rural call completion data collection duties, with broader disagreement over a replacement. "Nearly every commenter agrees the Commission should eliminate the current data recording, retention, and…
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reporting regime and adopt in its place its proposed new rule requiring covered providers to monitor intermediate providers’ performance and hold them accountable," said Verizon, as replies were filed Monday in docket 13-39. It said new standards and requirements proposed by "a few commenters" would "impose unnecessary burdens and ineffective obligations on covered providers." CenturyLink said no party disputed that RCC problems decreased, and it said current rules produce questionable data and are burdensome. It suggested the FCC give carriers "flexibility to offer a lower-cost alternative to sophisticated customers more concerned about costs than rural call completion." Sprint said the record shows rules "are ineffective and should be eliminated; that any rural call completion problems have abated sharply; and that intercarrier compensation reform, competitive market forces, and cooperative industry efforts are the most effective." It opposed new regulations or performance mandates. Windstream also supported eliminating RCC rules and opposed new monitoring or reporting duties, while seeking flexibility if the FCC wrote new rules. But RLEC groups NTCA and WTA said current rules should be maintained until "a demonstrably effective replacement is implemented." Relying on carriers to monitor intermediate providers "was tried, but did not prove effective," they said: "Rather than risk backsliding, the Commission should require covered providers to actively manage their networks and comply with ATIS best practices." The Minnesota Telecom Alliance backed keeping the rules until the FCC "adopts the service quality standards" for covered voice transmission by intermediate providers. The MTA sought new mandates, including quality of service standards for individual intermediate carriers and "safe harbor or comparable incentives (or express obligations)" for covered carriers to limit the number of intermediate carriers handling individual calls. HD Tandem said the FCC generally should ban use of more than two intermediate carriers in RCC paths, with waivers for "legitimate need."