- SAMPLE CLEC Switched Access Rate Cap Summary Effective as of May 31, 2013 STATE FCC RATE CAP REGION (Interstate) N/A NECA Rate Bands 1-5 NECA Rate Bands 6-10 NECA Rate Band 11 CLECs who file interstate access tariffs are capped at the ILEC rates (Click on the appropriate region link to view interstate switched access rates for that carrier). CLECs who want to charge more than the ILECs are required to negotiate their rates directly with the IXCs. A rural exemption is available for a CLEC competing with a non-rural ILEC. The exemption is not available, however, if any portion of the CLEC's service area falls within a non-rural area. Qualifying CLECs may tariff rates up to the highest NECA rate band minute minus the NECA tariff's CCL charge if the competing ILEC is subject to CALLS access rates. See FCC ICC Reform effective December 29, 2011 Alabama AT&T f/k/a BellSouth No rate caps. April 17,2012 - The Commission issued an order requiring CLECs to file intrastate access reductions implementing the FCC's Reform Order no later than June 11, 2012. ILECs were required to submit filings in May. The Order also sets out the filing dates for the subsequent access reductions required by the FCC. Alaska ACS of Alaska, Anchorage & Fairbanks ACS AK & Anchorage The Alaska Intrastate Interexchange Access Charge Manual (AIIACM) provides that when an incumbent LEC first faces facilities based competition, it is required to exit the Alaska Exchange Carriers Association (AECA) access charge pool. When that happens, the Commission caps the major switched access charge rate elements (local switching, carrier common line, common transport, dedicated transport, and equal access) at the ILEC rates for all CLECs providing service in the ILEC's study area. Alaska ACS of the Northland ACS Fairbanks & Northland In an order dated August 18, 2010, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska revised its switched access charge regulations to eliminate the carrier common line (CCL) access charge rate element. Revenue lost as a result of the elimination of the CCL will be recovered through a new Alaska USF program and by a phased-in increase in the Network Access Fee (NAF) from $3.00 per month to a maximum of $5.75 per month. The new regulations are effective July 31, 2011. Arizona CenturyLink QC f/k/a Qwest No rate caps. In September 2007, the Arizona Corporation Commission sought comment on a list of issues to be considered in a consolidated proceeding concerning changes to its access charge and Arizona USF rules. Access issues to be addressed include whether CLEC access charges should be addressed as part of this docket and whether the Commission should attempt to achieve parity between intrastate and interstate access charges. In Procedural Orders issued in Feb. and March 2009, Commission Staff was authorized to issue data requests to both Arizona CLECs and ILECs, including Qwest. A workshop process will then be used to determine the issues to be considered in this docket going forward and whether a rulemaking or evidentiary hearing procedure should be used. A workshop was held July 27, 2009. The Commission decided at a procedural hearing on September 16, 2009 to seek additional testimony in its ongoing investigation. A hearing will be held March 16, 2010. March 2012 - The Commission is seeking comment on the impact of the FCC's ICC/USF Order. Arkansas AT&T f/k/a SBC No rate caps. SOURCE 47 CFR 61.26 FCC 11-161 (ICC Reform Order) FCC 12-47, 2nd Order on Reconsideration Dockets 28642 & 31816 R-08-3 (Order No. 9) and R-09-3 (Order No. 5) Procedural Orders, Docket Nos. 97-0137 & 00-0672 Copyright © 2013 Technologies Management, Inc. All rights reserved. Published by Technologies Management, Inc.,P.O. Drawer 200, Winter Park, FL 32790 Page 1 of 5 - SAMPLE CLEC Switched Access Rate Cap Summary Effective as of May 31, 2013 STATE California REGION (Interstate) AT&T f/k/a SBC RATE CAP The PUC has approved reductions to intrastate access charges by requiring all mid-size incumbent carriers to remove the non-cost-based element or its equivalent effective January 1, 2009. CLECs must reduce their intrastate access charges in two phases. In phase one, effective April 1, 2008, CLECs may charge no more than $0.025 per minute for originating or terminating intrastate access traffic. In phase two, effective January 1, 2009, CLEC rates will be capped at the higher of AT&T or Verizon's intrastate access charges plus 10%. Existing contracts between carriers that specify intrastate access charges are not affected by this Decision. Carriers may voluntarily contract with each other to pay intrastate access charges different from those adopted by the PUC's Decision. April 24, 2012 - The PUC proposed modifications to intrastate access charge rules in order to implement the FCC's ICC/USF reform order. June 21, 2012 - The Commission issued an Order directing ILECs and CLECs to adopt changes to their intrastate access rates consistent with the FCC ICC/USF Order and requirements established by the PUC. SOURCE R.03-08-018; Final Opinion dated 12/6/07 R.03-08-018; Proposed Modifications and 6/21/12 Order Copyright © 2013 Technologies Management, Inc. All rights reserved. Published by Technologies Management, Inc.,P.O. Drawer 200, Winter Park, FL 32790 Page 2 of 5 INTRASTATE CALIFORNIA CLEC SWITCHED ACCESS RATE CAPS RATES EFFECTIVE AS OF 12/1/12 AT&T f/k/a SBC (Originating) 1. Carrier Common Line 2. Switched Transport - Rated on a per DS-1 circuit. 3. AT&T f/k/a SBC (Terminating) Verizon f/k/a GTE (Originating) Verizon f/k/a GTE (Terminating) $0.00000000 $0.00000000 $0.00000000 $0.00000000 Common Transport Tandem Switched - per Minute Tandem Switched - per Minute per Mile Access Tandem Switching - per Minute Access Tandem Switching - CMUX - per minute Access Tandem Switching - CTP - per Minute $0.00029700 $0.00004730 $0.00109340 $0.00000000 $0.00000000 $0.00027000 $0.00004300 $0.00099400 $0.00000000 $0.00000000 $0.00000000 $0.00000220 $0.00039831 $0.00000000 $0.00186120 $0.00000000 $0.00000200 $0.00157400 $0.00000000 $0.00169200 Interconnection - per minute $0.00000000 $0.00000000 $0.00000000 $0.00000000 $0.00209110 $0.00190100 $0.01456532 $0.00190190 $0.00048118 $0.00048118 Local Switching Local Switching - Rate per Access Minute 4. Information Surcharge $0.00000000 $0.00000000 5. Transitional Charge - per term. minute (applies from 7/1/12 to 6/30/13) n/a n/a UNE-P Tandem Switched Scenario Total Per Minute - (mileage assumption of 12 miles) $0.00404910 $0.00368100 $0.01733241 $0.01076808 UNE-P Direct Scenario Total Per Minute $0.00209110 $0.00190100 $0.01504650 $0.00747808 CLEC Facilities Based Scenario Total Per Minute - (mileage assumption of 12 miles) $0.00295570 $0.00268700 $0.01693410 $0.00919408 n/a $0.00509500 CLECs are capped at the higher of AT&T or Verizon's intrastate access charges plus 10% for originating access. Originating rates shown above include the 10% additive. CA Staff has confirmed that even if a CLEC does not operate in Verizon's territory, the limit is Verizon's rates plus 10% for originating access. On June 21, 2012, The Commission modified intrastate access charges to be consistent with the FCC's objectives, thus removing the provision for a 10% markup on intrastate terminating access rate levels for all CLECs as originally permitted in D.07-12-020. Note: Interstate switched access rates apply to relevant terminating VoIP-PSTN traffic. FCC ICC Reform - Effective December 29, 2011 On November 18, 2011, the FCC released the text of its historic 750+ page Order comprehensively reforming its intercarrier compensation (access and reciprocal compensation) system. The Order will dramatically change the cost/revenue structure of the industry and affect all carriers whether providing local, long distance, wireless, or VoIP services. Transition for ICC Rates Under the framework established in the Order, all intercarrier compensation (ICC) rates will transition to bill-and-keep, which means that access and reciprocal compensation rates will go to zero. Intercarrier Compensation Reform Timeline Effective Date Dec. 29, 2011 July 1, 2012 July 1, 2013 July 1, 2014 For Price Cap Carriers and CLECs that benchmark access rates to price cap carriers For Rate-of-Return Carriers and CLECs that benchmark access rates to rate-of-return carriers All intercarrier switched access rate elements, All interstate switched access rate elements, including interstate and intrastate originating and including all originating and terminating rates and terminating rates and reciprocal compensation rates reciprocal compensation rates are capped. Intrastate terminating rates are also capped. are capped. Intrastate terminating switched end office and Intrastate terminating switched end office and transport rates, originating and terminating transport rates, originating and terminating dedicated dedicated transport, and reciprocal compensation transport, and reciprocal compensation rates, if rates, if above the carrier’s interstate access rate, above the carrier’s interstate access rate, are reduced are reduced by 50 percent of the differential by 50 percent of the differential between the rate and between the rate and the carrier’s interstate access the carrier’s interstate access rate. rate. Intrastate terminating switched end office and Intrastate terminating switched end office and transport rates, originating and terminating transport rates, originating and terminating dedicated dedicated transport rates, and reciprocal transport rates, and reciprocal compensation, if compensation, if above the carrier’s interstate above the carrier’s interstate access rate, are reduced access rate, are reduced to parity with interstate to parity with interstate access rate. access rate. Terminating switched end office and reciprocal Terminating switched end office and reciprocal one-third third of the compensation rates are reduced by one one-third third of the compensation rates are reduced by one differential between end office rates and $0.0007.* differential between end office rates and $0.005. * July 1, 2015 Terminating switched end office and reciprocal Terminating switched end office and reciprocal compensation rates are reduced by an additional compensation rates are reduced by an additional onethird of the original differential to $0.005. * one-third of the original differential to $0.0007. * July 1, 2016 Terminating switched end office and reciprocal compensation rates are reduced to $0.0007. * Terminating switched end office and reciprocal compensation rates are reduced to bill-and-keep. Terminating switched end office and transport are reduced to $0.0007 for all terminating traffic within the tandem serving area when the terminating carrier owns the serving tandem switch. Terminating switched end office and reciprocal compensation rates are reduced to $0.005. * Terminating end office and reciprocal compensation rates are reduced by one-third of the differential between its end office rates ($0.005) and $0.0007. * Terminating switched end office and transport are reduced to bill-and-keep for all terminating traffic within the tandem serving area when the terminating carrier owns the serving tandem switch. Terminating switched end office and reciprocal compensation rates are reduced by an additional onethird of the differential between its end office rates as of July 1, 2016 and $0.0007. * July 1, 2017 July 1, 2018 July 1, 2019 July 1, 2020 * Transport rates remain unchanged from the previous step. Terminating switched end office and reciprocal compensation rates are reduced to $0.0007. * Terminating switched end office and reciprocal compensation rates are reduced to bill-and-keep.* Notes: Reciprocal compensation rates and rates for VoIP-PSTN traffic decline in the same manner as terminating access rates. The above rates are default rates. Carriers are free to negotiate alternative agreements. Transitions for dedicated switched transport rates, originating access rates (including 8YY minutes), and rates for tandem switching and transport if the carrier does not own the serving tandem switch will be decided in the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Cost Recovery For ILECs & CLECs The Order adopts a set of complex rules under which ILECs may recover some of their lost revenue through a new access recovery charge (ARC) and in some cases the new USF fund (the Connect America Fund). CLECs may recover all their lost revenue through their end user rates with no limitations. VoIP Access Charges VoIP-PSTN traffic is included in the ICC regime on a prospective basis on the effective date of the Order. VoIP-PSTN traffic is traffic exchanged over PSTN facilities that originates and/or terminates in IP format and includes both interconnected and one-way VoIP traffic. VoIP compensation obligations can be imposed in both federal and state tariffs, which may also address the way intrastate VoIP calls can be identified. LECs may charge for both the functions they perform and the functions performed by their retail VoIP partner. Access Stimulation & Phantom Traffic The Order also contains rules to address access stimulation and phantom traffic. If a CLEC meets the definition of access stimulation it must benchmark its tariffed access rates to the rates of the price cap LEC with the lowest interstate switched access rates in the state. Service providers that originate interstate or intrastate traffic on the PSTN, or that originate interor intrastate interconnected VoIP traffic destined for the PSTN, are required to transmit the telephone number associated with the calling party to the next provider in the call path. This information must be passed on by all intermediate carriers in the call chain. Universal Service Program Reforms The Order also reforms the existing universal service program by creating a new Connect America Fund to extend broadband infrastructure to Americans who currently have no access to broadband. The new fund will include a Mobility Fund, making mobile broadband an independent universal service objective for the first time in history. The Order does not undertake any reform of the USF contribution methodology which is expected to be addressed in the first half of 2012. Source: Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Rulemaking, FCC 11-161 WC Docket No. 10-90, et. al., Second Order On Reconsideration, FCC 12-47 Order, DA 12-870, Docket 10-90 et.al., released June 5, 2012
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