FCC Suspends Special Access Rules, Will Collect Data To Modernize Them

The Federal Communications Commission released a Report and Order suspending on an interim basis rules allowing for automatic grants of pricing flexibility for special access services in light of significant evidence that these rules, adopted in 1999, are not working as predicted, and widespread agreement across industry sectors that these rules fail to accurately reflect competition in today’s special access markets. The Report and Order also aims to set forth a path to update the rules to better target regulatory relief to competitive areas, including extending relief to areas that are likely competitive but have been denied regulatory relief under our existing framework. The Report and Order was supported by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and Commissioners Clyburn and Rosenworcel. Commissioners McDowell and Pai voted against the Order.