Interesting order today by the FCC…Links in the press release below.
Douglas A. Hass Associate 312.786.6502 d...@franczek.com Franczek Radelet P.C. 300 South Wacker Drive Suite 3400Chicago,IL 60606 312.986.0300 - Main 312.986.9192 - Fax http://franczek.com<http://www.franczek.com/> Franczek Radelet is committed to sustainability - please consider the environment before printing this email. ________________________________ Circular 230 Disclosure: Under requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Service, we inform you that, unless specifically stated otherwise, any federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purposes of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or tax-related matter herein. ________________________________ For more information about Franczek Radelet P.C., please visit franczek.com. The information contained in this e-mail message or any attachment may be confidential and/or privileged, and is intended only for the use of the named recipient. If you are not the named recipient of this message, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message or any attachment thereto, is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender and delete all copies. ________________________________ From: NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association [mailto:communicati...@ntca.org] Sent: Monday, October 28, 2013 2:32 PM To: Hass, Douglas A. Subject: FCC Adopts Order to Combat Rural Call Completion [http://www.ntca.org/images/stories/NTCA_images/Email_Templates/corp_email_header_advocacy.jpg] FCC Adopts Order to Combat Rural Call Completion October 28, 2013 Earlier today, the FCC adopted by unanimous vote<http://emailt.ntca.org/acton/ct/3164/s-0098-1310/Bct/l-0013/l-0013:1b4/ct0_0/1> a report and order and further notice of proposed rulemaking (FNPRM) to address problems associated with completion of long-distance calls to rural areas. Although NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is still reviewing the order and FNPRM, it appears that both actions represent positive developments for rural consumers and their loved ones who have suffered the frustration or fear of a call not completing, lost business or endured public safety concerns because of circumstances beyond their control. The passage of the order and FNPRM also mark an important milestone in NTCA’s nearly three-year campaign to find a solution to this problem. That campaign has included numerous meetings with FCC staff, several Capitol Hill briefings, call completion test projects conducted with our rural allies and a successful effort by Sen. Tim Johnson (D–S.D.) to seek swift action via a letter to the commission that won the support of more than 30 senators earlier this year. In a statement accompanying the order issued today, Commissioner Ajit Pai credited NTCA<http://emailt.ntca.org/acton/ct/3164/s-0098-1310/Bct/l-0013/l-0013:1b4/ct1_0/1> and three other organizations for collaborating with the commission to seek a solution to the problem. Acting FCC Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn and Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel also expressed support for the action. In particular, today’s action: • Requires that providers with more than 100,000 lines that make the initial choice as to how to route a call collect and retain data for six months and file quarterly reports. • Prohibits the practice of false audible ringing (a type of signaling that leads the calling party to believe the phone is ringing at the called party’s premises when it is not). • Allows providers taking advantage of the safe harbor, which incorporates an industry best practice to limit the number of intermediate long-distance providers to two, to receive reduced data retention and reporting obligations. • Gives providers the option of requesting individual waivers to have their retention and reporting obligations further reduced by adopting practices to ensure calls to rural areas are completed. NTCA Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield released the following statement in response to the FCC’s actions: “NTCA first brought the troubling occurrence of rural call failures and other call completion issues to the FCC’s attention nearly three years ago. We are grateful to Chairwoman Clyburn for making resolution of this epidemic a priority during her tenure, to Commissioners Pai and Rosenworcel for pressing for common-sense and effective solutions, and to the agency’s staff for their hard work in seeking answers to these issues. There is still much work to be done to ensure that no consumer will be cut off from critical communications, but NTCA is hopeful that this order will help to minimize consumer confusion by precluding false ringing, provide immediate incentives for providers to better manage completion of their calls, give the FCC a useful tool in identifying bad actors for enforcement, and serve as a springboard for further conversations about what else remains to be done to achieve truly universal and seamless connectivity.” For more information about these and other federal policy developments, read NTCA’s weekly Washington Report<http://emailt.ntca.org/acton/ct/3164/s-0098-1310/Bct/l-0013/l-0013:1b4/ct2_0/1>. Questions may also be directed to NTCA Director of Legal & Industry and Assistant General Counsel Jill Canfield at jcanfi...@ntca.org<mailto:jcanfi...@ntca.org>. 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