PRICING POLICY DIVISION

The Pricing Policy Division is responsible for administering the provisions of the Communications Act requiring that the charges, practices, classifications, and regulations of common carriers providing interstate and foreign services are just and reasonable. The Division develops competitive pricing policies and rules for the retail and wholesale interstate rates charged by price-cap carriers and rate-of-return carriers; the intercarrier compensation rates that carriers charge each other; and the rates for resale of local exchange services, unbundled network elements and interconnection that incumbent carriers charge competitive carriers. The Division also ensures compliance with Commission pricing rules and conducts formal or informal investigations of carrier charges, practices, classifications and regulations, and recommends appropriate action. The Division also develops rules and polices relating to the Uniform System of Accounts, affiliate transactions, regulated/non-regulated cost allocations, and depreciation rates. In conjunction with the Competition Policy Division, this Division reviews applications from Bell operating companies for authority to provide in-region interLATA services.

8/22/2012
Order: Special Access For Price Cap Local Exchange Carriers. Report and Order suspending on an interim basis rules allowing for automatic grants of pricing flexibility and setting forth a path to update the rules. (Dkt No. 05-25 RM-10593 ). [Word] [Acrobat]

8/3/2012
Public Notice: Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment On Chillicothe Telephone Company Petition For Waiver Of Connect America Fund Intercarrier Compensation Support Deadline. (Dkt No 10-90 01-92 96-45 ). Comments Due: 08/17/2012. Reply Comments Due: 08/24/2012. [Word] [Acrobat]

8/1/2012
Order: July 3, 2012 Annual Access Tariff Filings. Reconsidered the decision in the 2012 Suspension Order to suspend and investigate the revised tariff rates for the issuing carriers and associated transmittals listed in Appendix A. [Word] [Acrobat]

7/19/2012
Order: NECA Revisions To F.C.C. Tariff No. 5. Suspended tariff revisions for one day and instituted an investigation into the affected transmittal. [Word] [Acrobat]

7/10/2012
Public Notice: Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment On Hypercube Telecom, LLC Petition For Limited Waiver Of Call Signaling Rules. (DA No. 12-1053). (Dkt No 10-90 01-92 10-208 96-45 05-337 07-135 03-109 09-51 ). Comments Due: 08/09/2012. Reply Comments Due: 08/24/2012. [Word] [Acrobat]

7/3/2012
Order: JULY 3, 2012 Annual Access Charge Tariff Filings. Suspended for one day and set for investigation the ARC rates contained in the 2012 annual access tariffs of all issuing carriers that are charging an ARC in this annual access tariff filing. [Word] [Acrobat]

6/26/2012
Public Notice: Petitions Of Pacific Bell, Southwestern Bell, And Windstream For Pricing Flexibility In Specified Metropolitan Statistical Areas Deemed Granted By Operation Of Law. [Word] [Acrobat]

6/12/2012
Erratum: Erratum - Connect America Fund, A National Broadband Plan For Our Future, Et AL. Issued an Erratum correcting Order, DA 12-870, released June 5, 2012. (Dkt No. 10-90 10-208 09-51 96-45 07-135 05-337 03-109 01-92 ). [Word] [Acrobat]

6/11/2012
Order: National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc. 2011 Modification Of Average Schedules. Required the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc. to submit proposed modifications to the average schedule formulas annually or to certify that no modifications are warranted. (Dkt No. 10-251 11-204 ). [Word] [Acrobat]

6/5/2012
Order: The Bureau acts pursuant to this delegated authority to revise and clarify certain rules, and acts pursuant to authority delegated to the Bureau in sections 0.91, 0.201(d), and 0.291 of the Commission's rules to clarify certain rules. [Word] [Acrobat]

6/5/2012
Public Notice: Announcing Procedures for Filing And Obtaining Confidential Information For Annual Access Charge Tariff Filing And Corrections To TRP Intrastate Eligible Recovery Worksheet For Rate-Of-Return Carriers And Long Form TRP For Price Cap Carriers. [Word] [Acrobat]

6/5/2012
Public Notice: Wireline Competition Bureau Announces Publicly Available Sources In The Special Access NPRM Proceeding. (DA No. 12-873). (Dkt No 05-25 RM-10593 ). [Word] [Acrobat]

6/4/2012
Public Notice: Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment On NECA Petition For Temporary Expedited Waiver Of Interstate Access Recovery Charge Rules. (DA No. 12-883). (Dkt No 10-90 01-92 10-208 96-45 05-337 07-135 03-109 09-51 ). Comments Due: 06/08/2012. Reply Comments Due: 06/11/2012. [Word] [Acrobat]

5/23/2012
Public Notice: Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment On Consolidated Communications, Inc., Petition For Limited Waiver Of Call Signaling Rules. (Dkt No 10-90 01-92 10-208 96-45 05-337 07-135 03-109 09-51 ). Comments Due: 06/22/2012. Reply Comments Due: 07/09/2012. [Word] [Acrobat]

5/4/2012
Public Notice: Annual Adjustment Of Revenue Thresholds. This notice announces the inflation-adjusted 2011 revenue thresholds used for classifying carrier categories for various accounting and reporting purposes. [Word] [Acrobat]

4/30/2012
Public Notice: Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment On Sprint Petition For Declaratory Ruling On VOIP Originated Traffic. (Dkt No 12-105). Comments Due: 06/14/2012. Reply Comments Due: 07/16/2012. [Word] [Acrobat]

4/19/2012
Order: Tariff Review Plans regarding the 2012 Annual Access Charge Tariff Filings. Sets forth the Tariff Review Plans that all incumbent local exchange carriers should file to support the annual revisions to the rates in their interstate access service tariffs. [Word] [Acrobat] [TRPShort Form] [TRP Long Form] [Rate of Return]

4/13/2012
Public Notice: Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment On Level 3 Petition For Limited Waiver Of Call Signaling Rules. (DA No. 12-581). (Dkt No 10-90 01-92 10-208 96-45 05-337 07-135 03-109 09-51 ). Comments Due: 05/14/2012. Reply Comments Due: 05/29/2012. [Word] [Acrobat]

4/4/2012
Public Notice: Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment On Alaska Rural Coalition And Fairpoint Communications, Inc. Petitions For Limited Waiver Of Call Signaling Rules. (Dkt No 10-90 01-92 10-208 96-45 05-337 07-135 03-109 09-51 ). Comments Due: 05/04/2012. Reply Comments Due: 05/21/2012. [Word] [Acrobat]

4/2/2012
Public Notice: Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment On The Petition Of The Fairpoint Cost Companies For Conversion Of Their Special Access Services To Price Cap Regulation And For Limited Waiver Relief. (Dkt No 12-71 ). Comments Due: 05/02/2012. Reply Comments Due: 05/17/2012. [Word] [Acrobat]

3/30/2012
Erratum: July 3, 2012 Annual Access Charge Tariff Filings. Issued an Erratum correcting, Order, DA 12-482, released March 28, 2012. [Word] [Acrobat]

3/28/2012
Order: July 3, 2012, Annual Access Charge Tariff Filings. Established procedures for the 2012 annual access charge tariffs and Tariff Review Plans for incumbent local exchange carriers subject to price caps, as well as rate-of-return ILECs. (Dkt No. 12-07 ). [Word] [Acrobat]

3/23/2012
Public Notice: Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment On Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. Petition For Limited Waiver Of Call Signaling Rules. (Dkt No 10-90 01-92 10-208 96-45 05-337 07-135 03-109 09-51 ). Comments Due: 04/23/2012. Reply Comments Due: 05/08/2012. [Word] [Acrobat]

3/22/2012
Public Notice: Comment Cycle Established For Further Notice Of Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Separations Freeze Extension. (Dkt No 80-286 ). Comments Due: 04/05/2012. Reply Comments Due: 04/12/2012. [Word] [Acrobat]

3/12/2012
Order: Petition Of Puerto Rico Telephone Company, Inc. And Puerto Rico Telephone Larga Distancia, Inc. For Waiver Of Section 64.1903 Of The Commission's Rules. Extended the current deadline application to Puerto Rico Telephone Company, Inc. until February 16, 2013. (Dkt No. 10-52 ). [Word] [Acrobat]

3/9/2012
Public Notice: Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment On The Petition Of Consolidated Communications, Frontier, And Windstream For Conversion Of Average Schedule Affiliates To Price Cap Regulation And For Limited Waiver Relief. (Dkt No 12-63 ). Comments Due: 04/09/2012. Reply Comments Due: 04/24/2012. [Word] [Acrobat]

3/8/2012
Public Notice: Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment On Hawaiian Telcom Petition For Limited Waiver Of Call Signaling Rules. (Dkt No 10-90 01-92 10-208 96-45 05-337 07-135 03-109 09-51 ). Comments Due: 04/09/2012. Reply Comments Due: 04/24/2012. [Word] [Acrobat]

3/2/2012
Public Notice: Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment On The National Exchange Carrier Association Petition For Clarification Of Rules Related To Administrative Expenses. (Dkt No 10-90 01-92 10-208 96-45 05-337 07-135 03-109 09-51 ). Comments Due: 03/19/2012. Reply Comments Due: 04/03/2012. [Word] [Acrobat]

3/1/2012
Public Notice: Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment On General Communication, Inc.'s Petition For Limited Waiver. (Dkt No 10-90 01-92 10-208 96-45 05-337 07-135 03-109 09-51 ). Comments Due: 04/02/2012. Reply Comments Due: 04/17/2012. [Word] [Acrobat]

2/16/2012
Public Notice: Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment On Verizon Petition For Limitied Waiver Of Call Signaling Rules. (Dkt No 10-90 01-92 10-208 96-45 05-337 07-135 03-109 09-51 ). Comments Due: 03/19/2012. Reply Comments Due: 04/03/2012. [Word] [Acrobat]

2/13/2012
Letter:Special Access For Price Cap Local Exchange Carriers, AT&T Corporation Petition For Rulemaking To Reform Regulation Of Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier Rates For Interstate Special Access Services. Granted in part and denied in part Verizon's request for highly confidential treatment of its filing. (Dkt No. 05-25 RM-10593 ) [Word] [Acrobat]

2/8/2012
Public Notice: Comment Sought On A Petition Filed By Eastex Telephone Cooperative, Inc. For Waiver Concerning The Commission's Part 36 Jurisdictional Separations Rules. (Dkt No 80-286 ). Comments Due: 03/09/2012. Reply Comments Due: 03/26/2012. [Word] [Acrobat]

2/6/2012
Order: Windstream Nebraska, Inc., Windstream Sugarland, Inc., Valore Communications Of Texas LP D.B.A Windstream Communications Southwest For Pricing Flexibility As Specified In Section 69.727 Of The Commission's Rules. Adopted a Protective Order in this proceeding. [Word] [Acrobat]

2/6/2012
Order: Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. Adopted a Protective Order in this proceeding. [Word] [Acrobat]

2/6/2012
Order: Pacific Bell Telephone Company. Adopted a Protective Order in this proceeding. [Word] [Acrobat]

2/6/2012
Public Notice: Pleading Cycle Established For Windstream Nebraska, Inc., Windstream Sugarland, Inc., ET. AL, Under Section 69.727 Of The Commission's Rules. Comments Due: 03/07/2012. Reply Comments Due: 03/27/2012 [Word] [Acrobat]

2/6/2012
Public Notice: Pleading Cycle Established For Southwestern Bell Telephone Company Petition For Pricing Flexibility Under Section 69.727 Of The Commission's Rules. Comments Due: 03/07/2012. Reply Comments Due: 03/27/2012 [Word] [Acrobat]

2/6/2012
Public Notice: Pleading Cycle Established For Pacific Bell Telephone Company Petition For Pricing Flexibility Under Section 69.727 Of The Commission's Rules. Comments Due: 03/07/2012. Reply Comments Due: 03/27/2012 [Word] [Acrobat]

1/30/2012
Order:Sandwich Isles Communications, Inc. Petition For Declaratory Ruling. Dismissed Sandwich Isles Communications, Inc.'s Motion For Stay. (Dkt No. 09-133 ). [Word] [Acrobat]

1/30/2012
Public Notice: Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment On Centurylink Petition For Limited Waiver Of Call Signaling Rules. (Dkt No 10-90 01-92 10-208 96-45 05-337 07-135 03-109 09-51 ). Comments Due: 02/29/2012. Reply Comments Due: 03/15/2012. WCB . [Word] [Acrobat]

1/27/2012
Public Notice: Pleading Cycle Established For United States Telecom Association Petition For Waiver Of Requirements In Section 61.49(K) Of The Commission's Rules For The Short Form Tariff Review Plan. (DA No. 12-100). (Dkt No 12-22 ). Comments Due: 02/13/2012. Reply Comments Due: 02/23/2012. [Word] [Acrobat]

1/27/2012
Public Notice: NECA Files Annual Update Cost Allocation Manual Revision. Comments Due: 02/24/2012. Reply Comments Due: 03/12/2012. [Word] [Acrobat]

1/25/2012
Public Notice: National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc's. Proposed 2012 Modification Of Average Schedule Formulas. (Dkt No 11-204) Pleading Cycle Established. Comments Due: 02/14/2012. Reply Comments Due: 02/24/2012. [Word] [Acrobat]

1/10/2012
Public Notice: Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment On AT&T Petition For Limited Waiver Of Call Signaling Rules. (DA No. 12-34). (Dkt No 10-90 01-92 10-208 96-45 05-337 07-135 03-109 09-51 ). Comments Due: 02/09/2012. Reply Comments Due: 02/24/2012. [Word] [Acrobat]

1/6/2012
Public Notice: Protested Tariff Transmittal Action Taken. [Word] [Acrobat]

11/14/2011
Public Notice: Instructions For Non-ILEC ETFS Initial Filings (Dkt No 10-141 ). [Word] [Acrobat]

Pricing Flexibility
In the Access Charge Reform Fifth Report and Order, the Commission established the parameters for granting flexibility in the pricing of interstate access services by incumbent local exchange carriers (LECs) subject to price cap regulation. The pricing flexibility framework the Commission adopted in the Access Charge Reform Fifth Report and Order is designed to grant greater flexibility to price cap LECs as competition develops, while ensuring that: (1) price cap LECs do not use pricing flexibility to deter efficient entry or engage in exclusionary pricing behavior; and (2) price cap LECs do not increase rates to unreasonable levels for customers that lack competitive alternatives. In addition, the reforms were designed to facilitate the removal of services from price cap regulation as competition develops in the marketplace, without imposing undue administrative burdens on the Commission or the industry.

The Wireline Competition Bureau has released several orders granting petitions of price cap LECs seeking pricing flexibility in accordance with the rules adopted in the Access Charge Reform Fifth Report and Order.

CALLS MADE FROM PAYPHONES
Section 276 of the Act directs the Commission to take a number of actions to promote competition among payphone services and the widespread deployment of payphone services to the general public. The FCC has taken steps also to ensure fair compensation to payphone service providers for each and every call placed from payphones.

A payphone service provider is the person or entity who owns the payphone instrument, such as the local telephone company, an independent company, or the owner of the premises where the payphone is located. [Consumer Fact Sheet]