• On June 5, 2012, the Wireline Competition Bureau of the FCC released an Order in the Connect America docket that clarifies a number of issues relating to the step-down of intrastate rates and grants a waiver of the July 1, 2012 deadline for filing interstate access rates. The effective date of annual switched access tariffs is now July 3, 2012, because these tariffs are typically filed on 15 days’ notice; in order to meet the July 1 deadline, carriers would have had to make their filings over a weekend. The FCC is encouraging state commissions to issue a similar extension for intrastate switched access tariff filings. In addition, the Bureau clarified that carriers may apply rate reductions as to any element, provided that the resulting rate would be equal to the 2012 level set in the FCC’s Connect America Order. A copy of the Order may be found here. (DA-12-870, WC Docket No. 10-90)
  • Local Exchange Carriers (LECs) that maintain switched access tariffs on file with the New York Public Service Commission (NY PSC) are required to update their tariffs in compliance with the FCC Connect America Order (FCC 11-161) by June 15, 2012. The NY PSC appended the rates Frontier and Verizon to the order to assist competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) with their filings. A copy of the order may be found here. Case No. 12-C-0012.
  • LECs operating in Iowa are required to update their intrastate switched access tariffs to comply with the Connect America Order (FCC 11-161). In this filing, LECs are required to step-down their intrastate access rates to 50% of the difference between the LEC’s intrastate access rates and interstate access rates. The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) has set a timeline for these filings in order that the new access rates are effective July 1, 2012. LECs that believe their current intrastate access tariffs comply with the Connect America plan are required to file a letter with the IUB by July 1, 2012, explaining how their existing tariff is in compliance. A copy of the order can be found here. IAC-2012-2214.
  • The Maryland Public Service Commission (MD PSC) has ordered all facilities-based LECs to update their intrastate tariffs to reflect the implementation of the Connect America Order’s Internet-protocol (IP) traffic provisions in the Connect America Order (FCC 11-161) by July 1, 2012. These provisions allow LECs to charge switched access charges for all IP-related traffic at interstate rates. The MD PSC warned that LECs that do not make these filings in a timely manner may be out of compliance and will not be allowed to charge for intrastate switched access until their revised tariff is approved by the MD PSC. A copy of the MD PSC notice can be found here. The Connect America Order may be found here.
  • The Universal Service contribution factor for the second quarter of 2012 is 17.4%. A copy of the Public Notice announcing the rate can be found here. (DA-12-396).