FCC Eliminates Dated Phone Industry Rules

Moving to eliminate regulatory burdens that can stifle investment, while maintaining core protections for consumers and competition, the Federal Communications Commission voted to no longer enforce multiple dated rules governing legacy local phone companies, known as incumbent local exchange carriers, or ILECs. The FCC granted full or partial forbearance from most of the categories of rules covered by a petition for forbearance filed by U.S. Telecom, an industry trade association.

A number of these rules were pre-conditions to the ability of the former “Baby Bell” telephone companies to offer long distance telephone service, a process that was completed over a decade ago. With the long distance service market very different today than it was then, these rules generally no longer are necessary to protect consumers or competition. However, the FCC maintained rules still needed to ensure that consumers in rural areas and low income consumers have access to affordable phone service. And it preserved rules that continue to protect competition in the market for telecommunications services to businesses and other enterprises.