FCC Proposes Removal of Nondiscrimination Requirements Between U.S., Cuba

The FCC proposed an action to remove its nondiscrimination rules on the U.S.-Cuba route, which currently require all facilities-based U.S. carriers providing services on the U.S.-Cuba route to operate under "identical rate terms and conditions," the commission said in a news release Friday. Cuba is the only country still under the nondiscrimination requirements. "If the proposal is adopted, U.S. carriers would have more flexibility to negotiate rates with the state-owned telecommunications operator ... and to respond to market forces," said the release. The FCC said its action is a result of the State Department's recommendation to remove the requirements based on the recent change in diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba. The action seeks comment on removing particular nondiscrimination requirements and "asks whether removal would lead to more direct agreements between U.S. carriers and the state-owned telecommunications operator, and encourage competition on the U.S.-Cuba route."