The FCC is aiming to put a business data service item on the tentative agenda Thursday for the April 20 commissioners' meeting, industry representatives told us Tuesday. Chairman Ajit Pai appears likely to circulate a deregulatory BDS draft to commissioners this week and seek a vote next month, though uncertainty remains, some said. The commission didn't comment.

Sprint urged the FCC to reject incumbent telco business data service proposals "and the dramatic price increases" they would spark, and instead adopt a BDS order "built on the consensus developed" after the commission issued an order and Further NPRM last May. Sprint submitted a detailed response at the FCC to the recent deregulatory BDS proposals of AT&T, CenturyLink and Frontier Communications (see 1703140046 and 1703210017). "There is no lawful basis for the Commission to accept these ILECs’ efforts to remove protections for the thousands of American businesses around the nation that buy dedicated broadband services," said the Sprint filing posted Thursday in docket 05-25. "At a minimum, if the Commission is considering a new proposal similar to the plans proposed by these ILECs, which would represent a fundamental course reversal, it must reveal its reasoning, conduct a new economic analysis that supports such a dramatic change, publish the details of its new proposal, and give the public an opportunity for notice and comment." Incompas emailed that it "agrees with Sprint that AT&T’s and CenturyLink/Frontier’s latest proposals for BDS will further rig the market for incumbents. The consequences of the proposals are undeniable. Small businesses, healthcare facilities, schools and libraries will end up paying more for BDS if they are adopted. In addition to raising prices and harming competition, investment in 5G infrastructure will be reduced. As the referee, the Commission must call the fouls when they see them." AT&T, CenturyLink and Frontier didn't comment.

Sprint urged the FCC to reject incumbent telco business data service proposals "and the dramatic price increases" they would spark, and instead adopt a BDS order "built on the consensus developed" after the commission issued an order and Further NPRM last May. Sprint submitted a detailed response at the FCC to the recent deregulatory BDS proposals of AT&T, CenturyLink and Frontier Communications (see 1703140046 and 1703210017). "There is no lawful basis for the Commission to accept these ILECs’ efforts to remove protections for the thousands of American businesses around the nation that buy dedicated broadband services," said the Sprint filing posted Thursday in docket 05-25. "At a minimum, if the Commission is considering a new proposal similar to the plans proposed by these ILECs, which would represent a fundamental course reversal, it must reveal its reasoning, conduct a new economic analysis that supports such a dramatic change, publish the details of its new proposal, and give the public an opportunity for notice and comment." Incompas emailed that it "agrees with Sprint that AT&T’s and CenturyLink/Frontier’s latest proposals for BDS will further rig the market for incumbents. The consequences of the proposals are undeniable. Small businesses, healthcare facilities, schools and libraries will end up paying more for BDS if they are adopted. In addition to raising prices and harming competition, investment in 5G infrastructure will be reduced. As the referee, the Commission must call the fouls when they see them." AT&T, CenturyLink and Frontier didn't comment.

CenturyLink and Frontier Communications asked the FCC for "nondominant" treatment of price-capped incumbent telcos' business data services (BDS) at all capacity levels. The proposal would free large ILECs from "stultifying tariffing requirements and ex ante regulation," creating a "level playing field" with competitors that don't face such burdens even when they have higher BDS market shares, said the two incumbent telcos in a filing posted Tuesday in docket 05-25.

CenturyLink and Frontier Communications asked the FCC for "nondominant" treatment of price-capped incumbent telcos' business data services (BDS) at all capacity levels. The proposal would free large ILECs from "stultifying tariffing requirements and ex ante regulation," creating a "level playing field" with competitors that don't face such burdens even when they have higher BDS market shares, said the two incumbent telcos in a filing posted Tuesday in docket 05-25.

The FCC appears to be receptive to AT&T's deregulatory business data service plan, said CCMI telecom consultant Andrew Regitsky Friday. It's "likely that AT&T received some type of signal from the Commission suggesting it introduce its plan," he wrote in a blog post. "This is strongly indicative that (1) the Commission will soon address this issue, and (2) Its official proposal is likely to look a lot like the AT&T one." AT&T's plan (see 1703140046) would "let the free market work whenever possible" and "apply minimal regulation" where there's no competition, minimizing "forced ILEC special access price cap decreases," Regitsky wrote. "AT&T’s competitors ought to quickly decide if they can live with this plan (highly unlikely) or quickly come up with a plan of their own and march in to enlighten the FCC. However, with [FCC Chairman Ajit] Pai in charge, carriers seeking additional special access regulation have a mountain in front of them." The FCC, AT&T and Incompas, which represents AT&T rivals, didn't comment.

The FCC appears to be receptive to AT&T's deregulatory business data service plan, said CCMI telecom consultant Andrew Regitsky Friday. It's "likely that AT&T received some type of signal from the Commission suggesting it introduce its plan," he wrote in a blog post. "This is strongly indicative that (1) the Commission will soon address this issue, and (2) Its official proposal is likely to look a lot like the AT&T one." AT&T's plan (see 1703140046) would "let the free market work whenever possible" and "apply minimal regulation" where there's no competition, minimizing "forced ILEC special access price cap decreases," Regitsky wrote. "AT&T’s competitors ought to quickly decide if they can live with this plan (highly unlikely) or quickly come up with a plan of their own and march in to enlighten the FCC. However, with [FCC Chairman Ajit] Pai in charge, carriers seeking additional special access regulation have a mountain in front of them." The FCC, AT&T and Incompas, which represents AT&T rivals, didn't comment.

AT&T said business data services are very competitive and need minimal regulation, as it proposed the FCC adopt a new BDS framework that "would be supported by the record." The proposal, detailed in two filings Tuesday, would add no regulation to Ethernet services, free legacy "transport" services from pricing regulation, and establish a competitive market test in metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) for legacy "channel terminations" (circuits to business customers akin to loops). The FCC didn't comment.

AT&T said business data services are very competitive and need minimal regulation, as it proposed the FCC adopt a new BDS framework that "would be supported by the record." The proposal, detailed in two filings Tuesday, would add no regulation to Ethernet services, free legacy "transport" services from pricing regulation, and establish a competitive market test in metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) for legacy "channel terminations" (circuits to business customers akin to loops). The FCC didn't comment.

PwC plans a local number portability administrator transition webinar March 15, 3-4 p.m. (EDT), said a Wireline Bureau public notice Wednesday. PwC, the transition oversight manager as inconectiv takes over Neustar's LNPA duties, also will be at the Incompas show in New Orleans April 4-5, the PN said.