Verizon, T-Mobile Urge Light Touch on TPS, WPS Rules
Verizon and T-Mobile urged light-touch regulation in replies on an NPRM commissioners approved in July (see 2007160045) on potential changes to telecom service priority (TSP) and wireless priority service (WPS) rules. Comments “reflect a broad recognition that the Commission should…
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preserve today’s reliance on negotiated commercial agreements between providers and [the Department of Homeland Security], and continue to apply the light regulatory touch already governing the IP-enabled services [National Security and Emergency Preparedness] users demand,” Verizon said. Rules should define DHS program administration responsibilities “to ensure that countervailing DHS rules or guidelines do not compromise the Commission’s light regulatory touch for IP-enabled services,” the carrier said: “Commenters recognize that prescriptive technical and operational requirements governing the implementation of priority and preemption capabilities are unnecessary.” T-Mobile said a "light touch" approach “where the details of carriers' priority service offerings are determined predominantly by contract better allows industry to meet the specific needs of … users and creates a flexible regulatory environment that will encourage innovation.” Rules should “ensure that carriers providing Title II services remain insulated from any potential violations of the Communications Act when affording those services priority treatment” and “ensure that priority service users are treated consistently across networks,” T-Mobile said. No one else filed replies in docket 20-187.