Press Release

PUC Calls Meeting To Discuss Federal Plan to Change Rules for Telephone Companies

Published on 8/17/2006

Filed under: Telecommunications

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today called a workshop to facilitate a discussion on a proposal before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to change interconnection compensation currently being used by telephone companies.

The FCC is seeking comments on the Missoula Intercarrier Compensation Reform Plan (Missoula Plan). The plan is being presented by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Task Force that submitted the plan as a comprehensive approach that “unifies intercarrier charges for the majority of lines, and moves all intercarrier rates charged for all traffic closer together.”  Intercarrier compensation addresses the money that telecommunications carriers pay each other for the origination, transmis­sion, and termination of intrastate and interstate telecommunications traffic. 

The PUC has jurisdiction over many aspects of the Missoula Plan including intrastate carrier charges. The Commission will convene the stakeholders in the telecommunications field including the regulated and unregulated industry segments, consumer groups, government agencies and other interested parties to solicit comments and presentations on the Missoula Plan.

The PUC has decided to play an active role in this pending FCC proceeding. The PUC will utilize the discussions, comments and presentations from this workshop in order to weigh in with the FCC on this proposal. The workshop will be held no later than Sept. 15, 2006.

A PUC administrative law judge will preside over the workshop. The information received at the workshop will be considered by the Commission as it prepares comments to be filed with the FCC on the plan. The comments on the proposal are due to the FCC by Sept. 25, 2006. Reply comments are due by Nov. 11, 2006.

A secretarial letter will be issued by the Commission to inform interested parties of the date, location and additional details of the workshop. Any additional information will be posted on the Commission’s website at www.puc.state.pa.us. 

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission ensures safe, reliable and reasonably priced electric, natural gas, water, telephone and transportation service for Pennsylvania consumers, by regulating public utilities and by serving as stewards of competition.

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Docket No. M-00061972

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