Tata Gets Limited Waiver of LIRE Threshold

The FCC Wireline Bureau gave Tata Communications limited waiver of rules for revenue reporting years 2020 and 2021, in an order said Thursday. This waives the 12% limited international revenue exemption (LIRE)-qualifying threshold so Tata may "continue to contribute to the Universal Service Fund based solely on its interstate end-user telecommunications revenues." Waiver is limited to "direct USF contribution obligations only" and expires at year-end or the effective date of any new rules revising LIRE on an industrywide basis. Tata won't be exempt from paying indirect USF contributions if its interstate revenue declines to a level that would qualify the company for de minimis status.