IP Tech Transition Order Not on FCC July Agenda; Parties Keep Lobbying
The FCC didn't schedule an IP technology transition item for a vote next month, shows the tentative agenda for the July 16 meeting released Thursday. A draft IP tech transition order was under consideration early in the week for inclusion…
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on the agenda (see 1506220041), but industry sources said Wednesday that the prospects had dimmed for July action (see 1506240066). The item could still be considered at the FCC's next monthly meeting Aug. 6. Parties continue to lobby the FCC in the proceeding in dockets 13-5 and 14-174. USTelecom called for "reasonable guidelines and/or interim procedures" when ILECs retire traditional TDM (time-division multiplexed) systems while the FCC works through rules for higher-capacity special-access circuits. Proposals from competitors using ILEC wholesale inputs seem "designed primarily to preserve their own particular approach to serving customers ... rather than to ensure that end user customers have an adequate replacement service option," a USTelecom ex parte filing said. Public Knowledge and 28 other groups sent a letter urging the FCC to adopt rules to protect 85 million Americans and millions of small businesses still using traditional wireline phone service from losing access to vital services, and to preserve the stability of the phone network and reliability of 911 service for all Americans. The American Cable Association and ITTA both expressed concern about possible FCC backup power mandates. ACA said it didn't oppose a mandate on cable to offer new voice service customers a reasonable backup power capability but said it should require an offer to be made only once at the point of sale. ACA also said small operators, with less than 100,000 voice customers, should have an extra 180 days to comply with a new rule. ITTA said backup power proposals in a November NPRM "are unwarranted and would result in increased costs and burdens for providers and consumers while impeding the Commission’s broadband deployment goals."