USTelecom Petitions FCC To Drop 'Archaic' Regulations

USTelecom filed a petition asking the Federal Communications Commission not to apply legacy regulations to incumbents in the new IP world, regulations like sharing newly built conduit with competitors, that don't apply to cable operators and competitive carriers.

The petition argues argue that the business services market is increasingly competitive, citing Comcast/Time Warner Cable's merger as an example of how it could get even more competitive -- the cable operators have been pitching the deal as a way to strengthen business services broadband vis a vis AT&T and Verizon. Among the legacy regulations they want axed are ones that require them to continue to maintain traditional networks, which they say takes away from investment in new services their customers want.

USTelecom wants the FCC to forbear (not enforce) the following regulations:

• Outdated provisions in Sections 271 and 272, and the related equal access rules;
• Rule 64.1903 structural separation requirements;
• The requirement that an ILEC provide an unbundled 64 kbps voice channel where it has replaced a copper loop with fiber;
• Section 214(e)(1) eligible telecommunications carrier (“ETC”) requirements where a price cap carrier does not receive high-cost universal service support;
• The remaining Computer Inquiry rules;
• The Section 224 and 251(b)(4) requirement that ILECs share newly deployed entrance conduit; and
• Rules prohibiting the use of contract tariffs to offer special access and high capacity data services in the absence of pricing flexibility.