Wireline Bureau Seeks Comment on Cutting Phone Access Charges
The FCC Wireline Bureau on Wednesday asked for a record refresh following up on a March 2020 NPRM (see 2003310039). Comment deadlines will come in a Federal Register notice. The bureau also asked whether “any market consolidation affected parties’ positions on the questions in the Notice,” which is part of the FCC’s efforts to “eliminate outdated and unnecessary regulations.”
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In the 2020 NPRM, “the Commission invited comment on its proposal to eliminate ex ante pricing regulation of Telephone Access Charges and require incumbent and competitive [local exchange carriers] to detariff these charges,” said Wednesday's notice (docket 20-71). “Over the past five years, local exchange carriers’ market share has declined while mobile and interconnected VoIP providers’ market share has increased,” the bureau said. “We seek comment on whether and how these marketplace trends, as well as any state regulatory changes, bear on the Commission’s proposals or might affect any interested party’s position on the Commission’s proposals in the Notice."