|
March 2005
volume ix, number 3
Top Story
| News &
Stuff |
Product Spotlight
FCC Works to Replace Outdated Rules for
Intercarrier Compensation
SBC The FCC is working to replace the existing rules for
intercarrier compensation. Currently, the system is based on per
minute intercarrier payments at a rate dependent on whether the call
is designated as local or long-distance, wireless and wireline.
These distinctions, at this point in time, have no bearing on the
cost to the carrier for providing service.
The FCC is seeking comment on seven reform proposals submitted by
the industry. The Commission will examine what effect any changes
may have on consumers and the universal fund. It will also pay
close attention to any proposal that offers expanded choices and
reduced rates to rural consumers.
To read the plans in their entirety, visit the FCC's web site at
http://www.fcc.gov/wcb/ppd/.
Links to the plans can be found under the heading "Intercarrier
Compensation Reform."
top
Client Spotlight
This month, we introduce a new
feature to the Tele-Tech Updates newsletter. "Client Spotlight" will
showcase some of the successes of our customers. Please let us know
what you think about this new feature. If you're interested in being
considered for a future issue, please contact Kimberly Russo at
krusso@telecomdb.com or 800-433-6181.
Read the
whole story now.
News &
Stuff
AT&T and Qwest Reach Wholesale
Agreement
In mid-February, AT&T reported it had
reached a local wholesale phone services agreement throughout
Qwest's 14-state region.
While the agreement will allow AT&T to
continue serving its local customers in Qwest territory it will not
change the decision AT&T made last year to cease marketing voice
services to residential and small business consumers.
AT&T says it looks forward to continue
serving its local customers in Qwest territory.
FCC Adopts Rules for Phone Bill Accuracy and Slamming
The
FCC has adopted new rules to resolve the concerns
regarding billing accuracy due to carriers' failure to exchange
customer account information in a timely manner. The rules follow a
March 2004 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
"Under
the new rules, a LEC will be required to supply customer account
information to an IXC when: (1) the LEC has placed an end user on
the IXC's network; (2) the LEC has removed an end user from the
IXC's network; (3) an end user that is presubscribed to the IXC
makes certain changes to her account information via her LEC; (4)
the IXC has requested billing, name and address (BNA) information
for an end user who has usage on the IXC's network but for whom the
IXC does not have an existing account; and (5) the LEC rejects an
IXC-initiated order to change a customer's presubscribed
interexchange carrier (PIC). In addition, an IXC will be required
to supply customer account information to a LEC when an end user
contacts the IXC directly either to select or to remove the IXC as
his PIC. The Commission also required carriers to provide the
required notifications promptly and without unreasonable delay."
While
these standards apply to IXCs and LECs when customers switch long
distance carriers, the Commission decided to issue a Further Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking to determine whether rules should also be
adopted for situations in which consumers change LECs.
FCC Clarifies TCPA Rules
The Commission
addressed concerns regarding the implementation of the Telephone
Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (TCPA). The following is a partial
listing of decisions made by the FCC:
-
Clarified
that calls made for the purpose of debt collection are not
required to identify the caller's state-registered name in
prerecorded messages if doing so would conflict with federal or
state laws, in accordance with the Fair Debt Collection
Practices Act;
-
Declined
to reconsider the rules establishing the national do-not-call
registry;
-
Declined
to exempt further certain entities or calls from the do-not-call
rules;
-
Clarified
the company-specific do-not-call requests must be honored for
five years from the date any request is made, whether the
request was made prior to the effective date of the amended rule
or after the rule went into effect.;
-
Concluded
that an existing business relationship exists between a company
and consumer during the time a financial contract is in force
(including bank accounts, credit cards, loans and mortgages).
To read the
complete list of clarifications please visit the FCC website at
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-256711A1.doc
Switching Long Distance Providers Just Got Cheaper
LECs currently
bill a $5 fee for switching a customer's pre-subscribed
long-distance carrier, but soon the cost to consumers for this
service could drop to $1.25. Carriers who order the changes in a
pre-subscribed interexchange carrier electronically rather than
manually would be able to apply the new charge. If consumers switch
both interstate and intrastate long-distance providers at the same
time the charge for changing the interstate provider is reduced to
$.63.
The change in
rates came about because the FCC found that electronic processing
and other changes within the industry reduced the cost of switching
since the $5 fee was applied in 1984. Additionally, the reduced
cost creates an incentive for long-distance carriers to invest in
electronic processing so that the fees charged by local providers
won't discourage customers from signing up.
Virgina SCC Approves Sprint/Centel Rate Restructure
In
mid-February, Central Telephone Company of Virginia (Sprint/Centel)
received approval from the SCC on its plan to restructure local
phone rates. The overall effect of the restructuring is a decrease
in the company's operating revenue.
Sprint/Centel is removing all distance-related zone charges, which
are now considered to be obsolete. Eliminating the charges, which
range from $3.50-$6.50/month, was considered to be in the best
interest of the public by the SCC.
To
recover some of the lost revenue Sprint/Centel will increase the
cost of certain basic and bundled services and features like caller
ID. In addition, party-line services and the 10 percent discount
offered to senior citizen will be eliminated.
Sprint/Centel must file supplemental information with the Commission
90 days after the restructuring plan has been in place for one year
to verify that changes have been revenue neutral.
Verizon Directed to Reduce Long Distance Access Charges
The
Virginia SCC ordered Verizon, Virginia's largest telephone company,
to reduce its long-distance access charges by August 1, 2005, and
again on February 1, 2006. The SCC determined that the new
competitive telecommunications market no longer supports subsidizing
Verizon's local phone rates.
The change was
guided, in part, by a new Virginia law that became effective July 1,
2004. The lowering of access charges should provide long distance
carriers an opportunity to advance their competitive offerings.
top
Product
Spotlight - NPA-NXX Trac in new format
We're pleased to announce that our
NPA-NXX Trac database (a.k.a. V&H) is now available as a single file
containing all area codes.
Formerly, this database was delivered
as a series of files either by NPA or as one file for each "series"
of NPAs based on the first two digits (i.e., 910, 912, 913... or 980,
984, 985, 989). The new concatenated version combines all of these
files into one, making it easier for clients to manipulate the data
and import it into their software.
Customers have the option to continue
to receive the separate files, or to switch to the concatenated
file. If you're interested in switching to the concatenated file,
please contact our customer service team by sending an email with
your last name as the subject to
custserv@telecomdb.com.
top
|
