The Secure Telephone Identity Governance Authority (STI-GA) recently announced two policy changes that are designed to make the STIR/SHAKEN ecosystem more efficient. The first change concerns allowing optional use of delegate certificates in order to enable voice service providers (VSPs”) other than the originating carrier to provide the highest level of attestation that carrier sends …

STIR/SHAKEN and Robocall Compliance Seem too Complicated and Burdensome? STI-GA Announces Policy Changes that Improves the Process for Voice Service Providers and Enterprises Read More »

On June 30, 2021, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) issued an Order approving per-minute provider compensation and adopting contribution factors for telecommunications relay services (TRS) funding for Fund Year 2021-22 (July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022). While the per-minute compensation increased, the combined contribution factors decreased from the …

TRS Fund Contribution Factors Released; Fund Administrator, Rolka Loube, Expected to Begin Invoicing Soon Read More »

The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Enforcement Bureau investigations arising from referrals or other information supplied by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) appear to be increasingly expansive. While the initial or primary issue leading to an Enforcement Bureau investigation may be related to one of the universal service programs administered by USAC, such as the …

Time to Revisit Your Company’s Compliance with CALEA and Associated FCC’s Regulatory Requirements is Now Read More »

On July 1, 2021, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) released a Public Notice proposing changes to the 2022 FCC Form 499-A, 499-Q, and accompanying filing instructions.  Proposed clarifications/edits to the Form 499 include the following (review closely, as some of the changes may be impactful on your company — in particular, if your …

FCC Proposes Changes to Form 499; Noteworthy Among the Proposed Changes, System Integrators Reselling “Traditional” Telecom Services Would Be Required to Register, File 499s, Report Revenue, and Contribute to Title II Programs (TRS, LNP, NANP) for the First Time Read More »

The Federal Communications Commission released a public notice on June 10, 2021, announcing the proposed Universal Service Fund (“USF”) contribution factor for the third quarter of 2021 will be 31.8%, a nearly 2% decrease from the previous quarter’s 33.4%.  At 31.8%, the Q3 USF contribution factor breaks the recent trend of record-breaking increases.  Yet the …

FCC USF Fee Factor Decreases from 33.4% to 31.8% for Q3 2021 Read More »

With a mere four (4) weeks remaining until the FCC’s June 30th deadline for compliance with STIR/SHAKEN rules, we thought it would be a good time to remind clients that the single most important obligation for the vast majority of voice service providers is the development and filing of their Robocall Mitigation Plan, following registration …

Less Than One Month Until June 30th STIR/SHAKEN Deadline! Still Need to Develop and Submit Your Robocall Mitigation Plan? Read More »

Proposal Would Require Big Tech to Start Paying Its Fair Share for Universal Service While Establishing a Stable Revenue Stream for Efforts Needed to Eliminate the Digital Divide   Today, in a Newsweek op-ed, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr outlined a new approach to funding the federal government’s efforts to close the digital divide. The FCC’s …

FCC Commissioner Carr Proposes to Reform Universal Service Fund Contribution System by Adding Broadband Revenue to Contribution Base Read More »

On May 10, 2021, the FCC issued a Public Notice stating that the Secure Telephone Identity Governance Authority (“STI-GA”) has issued a change in its Service Provider Code (“SPC”) Token Access Policy. Under the new policy, effective immediately, a voice service provider (“VSP”) that lacks the certificate necessary for participation in STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication …

STI-GA Announces Update of SPC Token Access Policy: Voice Service Providers Without Direct Access to Telephone Numbers May Now Apply for STIR/SHAKEN Certificate Read More »

Don’t become the FCC’s Poster Child for filing an inadequate, incomplete, non-substantive Robocall Mitigation Plan (RMP”) and avoid making the mistakes many Companies appear to be making with their RMP submissions; RMPs are NOT “Superficial” or “Certification” style documents; RMPs must contain “Substance” and “Details” regarding the specific steps your Company has taken to implement …

May 6, 2021 Deadline to Have Robocall Mitigation Plan (RMP) and “Know Your Customer” Procedures Operational Fast Approaching; Deadline to Register and File RMP with FCC on the Horizon Read More »

A West Virginia federal court judge denied motions to dismiss a proposed class action lawsuit against several telecommunications companies.  Mey v. All Access Telecom, Inc., Civil Action No. 5:19-cv-00237-JPB (April 23, 2021). Plaintiff filed a class action lawsuit against All Access Telecom, Inc., Bandwidth, CenturyLink, Level 3 Communications, Inteliquent and others, alleging the carriers violated …

“How Deep Are Your Pockets?” Federal Court Refuses to Dismiss TCPA-Based Caller ID-Spoofing Lawsuit Read More »