NARUC’s Telecom Committee adopted 3 of 4 policy resolutions endor...

meeting in Seattle, NARUC General Counsel Brad Ramsey Tues. said notice of appeal actually was filed Mon. to meet deadline at U.S. Appeals Court, D.C. “If you don’t approve this resolution, I can withdraw the appeal,” he said, but telecom panel voted unanimously in favor of appeal, saying judicial review was needed to ensure that cost assignment and responsibility for cost recovery were “jurisdictionally consistent” and to ensure state authority on Internet-related traffic. States believe remand order may improperly preempt state authority over several aspects of interconnection agreements and assign to state jurisdiction cost recovery for facilities that are federally regulated. Telecom panel also adopted slightly amended version of resolution on pending FCC rulemaking on unified intercarrier compensation regime. Resolution still opposes any unified intercarrier compensation plan that would preempt state interconnection policies. It urged that any unified system built around bill-and- keep be referred to Federal-State Joint Board on Separations for consideration of jurisdictional impacts and, in added amendment, be referred also to Joint Board on Universal Service for review of universal service implications. Telecom panel also adopted without change resolution that supported extending for another 2 years charter of N. American Numbering Council, which is due to expire in Oct. Fourth resolution from staffers was withdrawn for further work and possible reintroduction at NARUC’s annual convention this fall in Philadelphia. That resolution would have urged FCC, in its pending further rulemaking on numbering optimization, to make sure it preserved dialing plan preferences of each state’s commission. Also Tues, NARUC’s Consumer Affairs Committee approved resolution urging FCC, as it conducted its comprehensive reorganization under leadership of new Chmn. Powell, to “make a strong and effective cooperative relationship with state commissions” one of its top reorganization goals, particularly on consumer protection in telecom as industry evolved to competitive marketplace. Resolution applauded Powell’s expressed commitment to telecom consumer protection and his efforts to work with NARUC and individual states on consumer protection regulation, education and enforcement.