Press Release

PUC Issues Final Rulemaking on Interexchange Telecommunications Carriers and Service

Published on 8/8/2007

Filed under: Telecommunications

HARRISBURG –The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today issued a final rulemaking that brings the Commission’s regulations in line with legislative changes to the manner in which the PUC governs long-distance interexchange telecommunications carriers (IXCs).

The Commission voted 5-0 to adopt the final rulemaking which no longer requires IXCs to file tariffs for the intrastate competitive services and establishes a permissive detariffing policy for the statutory categories of competitive service offered by IXCs. Act 183 of 2004 amended Chapter 30 of the Pennsylvania Code, stating that interexchange services provided by IXCs are deemed competitive.

Under the rulemaking, the IXCs are no longer required to file with the Commission tariffs or price lists for their competitive services.  Accordingly, IXC applicants can withdraw their respective tariffs already filed with the Commission.

The rulemaking provides for:

• Clarification of various terms including competitive and non-competitive services;
• Requirements for competitive services;
• Reclassification of services;
• Applications for authority;
• Reporting requirements; and
• Enforcement.

The rulemaking now goes before the state’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission, the Office of Attorney General, Governor’s Budget Office and the standing committees in both houses of the General Assembly for review. Once that review is completed, the regulations would become final once published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities to ensure safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protect the public interest; educate consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; further economic development; and foster new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner. For recent news releases, or more information about the PUC, visit our Internet homepage www.puc.state.pa.us.

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Docket No. L-00050170

Contact:

• Press Secretary
  717-787-5722