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FCC | RIN: 3060-AL02 | Publication ID: Fall 2022 |
Title: Modernizing Unbundling and Resale Requirements in an Era of Next-Generation Networks and Services | |
Abstract:
On November 22, 2019, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on proposals to update the unbundling and avoided-cost resale obligations stemming from the 1996 Act and applicable only to incumbent LECs. Many of these obligations appear to no longer be necessary in many geographic areas due to vigorous competition for mass market broadband services in urban areas and numerous intermodal voice capabilities and services. But recognizing that rural areas pose special challenges for broadband deployment, the NPRM did not propose any change to unbundling requirements for broadband-capable loops in rural areas. The NPRM sought to promote the Commission’s efforts to reduce unnecessary and outdated regulatory burdens that appear to discourage the deployment of next-generation networks, delay the IP transition, unnecessarily burden incumbent LECs with no similar obligations placed on their competitors, and no longer benefit consumers or serve the purpose for which they were intended. On October 27, 2020, the Commission adopted a Report and Order (1) eliminating unbundling requirements, subject to a reasonable transition period, for enterprise-grade DS1 and DS3 loops where there is evidence of actual and potential competition, for broadband-capable DS0 loops and associated subloops in the most densely populated areas, and for voice-grade narrowband loops nationwide, but preserving unbundling requirements for DS0 loops in less densely populated areas and DS1 and DS3 loops in areas without sufficient evidence of competition; (2) eliminating unbundling requirements for network interface devices and multiunit premises subloops; (3) eliminating unbundled dark fiber transport provisioned from wire centers within a half-mile of competitive fiber networks, but providing an eight-year transition period for existing circuits so as to avoid stranding investment and last-mile deployment by competitive LECs that may harm consumers; (4) eliminating unbundling requirements for operations support systems, except where carriers are continuing to manage UNEs and for purposes of local interconnection and local number portability; and (5) eliminating remaining avoided-cost resale requirements. The Report and Order ended unbundling and resale requirements where they stifle technology transitions and broadband deployment, but preserved unbundling requirements where they are still necessary to realize the 1996 Act’s goal of robust intermodal competition benefiting all Americans. |
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Agency: Federal Communications Commission(FCC) | Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant |
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda | Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Long-Term Actions |
Major: No | Unfunded Mandates: No |
CFR Citation: 47 CFR 51.319 | |
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 10 47 U.S.C. 251 |
Legal Deadline:
None |
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Timetable:
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes | Government Levels Affected: Federal |
Small Entities Affected: Businesses | |
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No | |
RIN Data Printed in the FR: Yes | |
Agency Contact: Michele Berlove Assistant Division Chief, Competition Policy Div., WCB Federal Communications Commission Wireline Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554 Phone:202 418-1477 Email: michele.berlove@fcc.gov |