IXCs Push FCC To Rule Against IntraMTA Access Fees as Discovery Looms in Case

that the 'intraMTA rule' superseded the access charge regime," said a filing Tuesday by a Sprint counsel in docket 14-228. "LECs are only entitled to reciprocal compensation in connection with intraMTA calls and may not impose access charges on other carriers, including IXCs, carrying such calls. We urged the Commission to again reiterate its rule in answering the petition for declaratory ruling filed in this docket by the LEC Coalition." Sprint and Level 3 said it would serve the interests of all parties for the FCC "to reiterate its position" because hundreds of telecom carriers "are about to embark on costly discovery in connection" with a related U.S. district court proceeding. "That discovery is likely to be largely unnecessary once it is established that LECs are not entitled to impose access charges on intraMTA calls. Thus, it is now clear that, if the Commission waits to provide its guidance until the appeal of the recent district court decision, millions of dollars will be wasted," Sprint and Level 3 said. "We also noted that the one point on which the parties agree is that prompt action by the Commission is needed. The LEC Coalition recently 'reiterated its continuing support for its pending Petition for Declaratory Ruling'" (see here). LECs believe they're owed access charges for the intraMTA wireline-wireless traffic. A federal judge in November sided with a LEC motion to dismiss IXC federal claims (see 1511200070), but litigation continues.