USTelecom Makes Case for 8YY Solution in Calls With Commissioner Aides

USTelecom and its members urged the FCC to act on a February consensus proposal on toll-free access rates (see 2006080002). Representatives spoke with aides to Commissioners Mike O’Rielly, Brendan Carr and Geoffrey Starks, said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 18-156. “USTelecom explained that it represents a wide variety of stakeholders in this proceeding and accordingly filed a negotiated compromise resolution to move forward with 8YY reform in a manner that is consistent with the principles of the 2011 USF/ICC [intercarrier compensation] Transformation Order, reduces arbitrage, and is legally sustainable,” the group said: Each component of the compromise “including the transition timelines, rates, and ability to recover revenues” is “necessary to get sufficient member support amongst various stakeholders to move forward.” Carriers on the calls included Verizon, Frontier and Windstream. NTCA discussed the issue in a call with Wireline Bureau staff. “Make explicit in any upcoming order … that, in the absence of mutual agreement, no party may force a change to any RLEC’s existing interconnection points that define financial responsibility for interconnection and transport of calls pursuant to any tariff, contract, or other arrangement even if the intercarrier compensation rates applicable under such vehicles may be altered by a Commission order,” the group said.