NTCA files response to FCC all-IP transition NPRM

NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association submitted comments to the FCC on proposed rule changes intended to accelerate the transition to all-IP networks. The comments identify three impacts on rural local exchange carriers. First, the proposed shift to a full bill-and-keep framework for intercarrier compensation, interexchange service, and end-user charges could remove vital funding needed to complete migration from legacy networks. NTCA urges retention of the existing CAF ICC support mechanism and renaming it as an IP-transition fund. Second, the FCC should carefully address the network edge because its location affects rural provider costs. Third, the FCC should abandon eliminating ex ante pricing regulation and tariffing of Telephone Access Charges to avoid destabilizing rural carriers.

"Rather than eliminate this vital funding, the Commission should acknowledge that this funding is the key to completing the ongoing work to transition from legacy networks to all IP. To do so, and to allow small and rural carriers to complete their transitions, NTCA urges the Commission to retain the existing CAF ICC support mechanism and indeed rechristen it as a new IP-transition fund."

"The comments note that the point's location can impact the costs to rural providers. The filing raises three points regarding the impact of the change in rules on rural local exchange carriers (RLECs). The second point in the comments is that the FCC must "take great care in addressing the 'network edge,'" because it is the point at which a carrier delivers its traffic."

"The third point recommends that the FCC "abandon its proposal to eliminate ex ante pricing regulation and tariffing of Telephone Access Charges." The organization suggests that doing so would destabilize RLECs. The NTCA points out that the FCC has sought comments on this twice, and a "diverse cross section of the industry" concluded that they remain critical for RLECs."

"In March, the FCC reached what chairman Brendan Carr said at the time was "a good old-fashioned, bipartisan, collaborative compromise" on ways to streamline the transition from copper to all-IP networks."

Read at Telecompetitor