Incompas, Verizon Push Special Access Proposal at FCC; Verizon Defends Tariffs
Incompas and Verizon officials lobbied four FCC commissioner offices on their recent proposal for revamping special access services (see 1604070069). Incompas CEO Chip Pickering and Verizon Senior Vice President Kathleen Grillo met Tuesday and Wednesday with Commissioners Mignon Clyburn, Mike…
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O'Rielly, Ajit Pai, Jessica Rosenworcel and their advisers, said an Incompas-Verizon filing posted Thursday in docket 05-25. "We discussed the joint letter ... and the principles set forth in that letter which we urge the Commission to use as a guide for the FCC’s policy on dedicated services. We believe these principles reflect a balanced approach that incorporates the concerns of both sides of the policy debate," they said. Separately, Verizon Vice President Maggie McCready met with aides to O'Rielly, Pai and Rosenworcel to defend as "just and reasonable" the company's generally available special access tariff discount plans, including the requirement to purchase demand from a single plan. "In these plans, Verizon and the customer both realize the benefit of the bargain. Any requirements to change the plans should not result in one party realizing benefits beyond those included as part of the original agreement," she said in a filing. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has circulated a draft item tentatively scheduled for a vote April 28 that would bar "all or nothing" special access purchase provisions (see 1604110065).