NTCA Says FCC Should Delay Addressing Separations Freeze

The FCC should be in no rush to push through changes to the separations regime for price-cap carriers, NTCA replied in docket 80-286. The FCC recently extended a freeze on jurisdictional separations rules for 18 months while a federal-state joint board attempts to develop new proposals (see 1705150064). The record doesn't "support comprehensive separations reform” now, NTCA said. “Current separations rules may ultimately need modification, if not complete overhaul, to reflect the evolution of the communications marketplace towards IP-enabled services that are interstate in nature. However, existing separations rules should be retained while reforms to Universal Service Fund and intercarrier compensation mechanisms that specifically sit atop the existing rules still take root.” The Moss Adams accounting and consulting firm agreed. In initial comments, associations representing carriers “each indicate in their own ways that now is not the time for the FCC to undertake significant reform of the Part 36 jurisdictional separations rules,” the firm said. “For the most part, Moss Adams concurs.” Moss Adams replied that NTCA is right, the FCC should allow USF and intercarrier compensation measures to play out for a while first, even if change ultimately is desirable. The two filed the only replies by our deadline Friday.