On June 5, COMPTEL and its member company Level 3 Communications filed comments urging the FCC to resolve the remaining disparities between pole attachment rates applicable to cable and telecommunications providers. The comments called for the FCC to grant the still-pending petition for reconsideration of the Commission's 2011 Pole Attachment Order.

The 2011 Pole Attachment Order recognized the importance of ensuring that all competitors had access to poles as the same, low cable rate - a point that the recent Open Internet Order reiterated. Granting the petition would simply fulfill this policy goal by finally completing the important work the FCC began four years ago.

COMPTEL noted that granting the petition will promote broadband deployment and protect against competitive distortions that these disparate rates can cause.

On June 4, COMPTEL filed comments on the proposed carrier contribution factor proposed by the Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Administrator Rolka Loube Associates. For funding year July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016, the proposed TRS contribution factor is 0.01635, which is 34 percent higher than the factor adopted by the Commission for the 2014-2015 fund year.

COMPTEL urged the Commission to closely examine the basis for this sharp increase, which places a substantial burden on carriers, and consider whether such a large increase is necessary. Moreover COMPTEL urged the Commission to revisit its apparent (though uncodified) prohibition against carriers identifying TRS contributions as line items on customer bills and/or declare that carriers are not prohibited from recovering TRS contributions in line items on customer bills.

In reply comments filed on June 1, COMPTEL noted that it agrees with several common and recurrent themes found in the comments on the local number portability transition plan. Those themes include: the critical need to both solicit and obtain feedback and participation during the transition process from all stakeholders, including, but not limited to, small providers, competitive carriers, rural carriers, state regulators and consumers; the critical need for proactive Commission oversight of the transition process and contract negotiations; and the critical need for all parties involved in the transition (NAPM, the transition oversight manager, Neustar and iconectiv) to mitigate risks and to control the costs that will be borne by stakeholders.

COMPTEL said it is confident that, due to the important role that number portability plays in keeping telephone subscribers connected, facilitating consumers' ability to switch providers and promoting competition,the Commission will use its oversight authority to ensure that the transition of LNPA responsibilities from Neustar to iconectiv is as transparent, effective and seamless as possible and that stakeholders are kept fully informed of the processes each step of the way.

Last week, Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) introduced the "No Rate Regulation of Broadband Internet Access Act," a one-sentence piece of legislation that would prohibit the FCC from regulating broadband rates.

The legislation is cosponsored by Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), as well as Representatives Bob Latta (R-OH), John Shimkus (R-IL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Steve Scalise (R-LA), Leonard Lance (R-NJ), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Pete Olson (R-TX), Mike Pompeo (R-KS), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Bill Johnson (R-OH), Billy Long (R-MO), Renee Ellmers (R-NC), Chris Collins (R-NY), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Joe Barton (R-TX).

The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) will host its Summer Committee Meetings July 12-15 at the New York Marriott Marquis. COMPTEL is planning to host a Competitors' Reception at New York Marriott Marquis on Saturday, July 11. Please note that the Competitors' Reception is not sponsored by NARUC nor is it a part of the Annual Meeting agenda.

If your company would like to sponsor, or you have questions, please email Karen Reidy or call 202-296-6650.

All COMPTEL Committee meetings are held at the association's headquarters, 1200 G St NW, Suite 350, Washington, DC 20005, unless otherwise noted.  All times listed are Eastern. For more information, call 202-296-6650.

June 16           Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting 

2 p.m.              Contact Karen Reidy