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Becoming More Efficient and Effective Through AVL

Some of the more common industry questions heard around the office today are about becoming more efficient and effective. The challenge here—is really knowing how to do just that. While there are virtually limitless amount of creative ideas these days within the workplace, one solution which can actually make efficiency and effectiveness a reality is [...]

Breaking Down the FCC Order: FCC Delays CMRS Bill-And-Keep

This blog is an update to an earlier blog titled FCC Order Released. The FCC adopted an Order on Reconsideration on December 23, 2011.  In the FCC USF/ICC Reform Order, effective December 29, 2011, Section XV. C. titled LEC-CMRS Non-Access Traffic says for LEC-CMRS intraMTA traffic subject to reciprocal compensation, the FCC is adopting a [...]

Tapping Technology At the Electric Co-op

At CFC’s recent Independent Borrower’s Conference, a panel of three electric co-op managers talked about their organizations’ experience adopting and using new technology, from smart meters, to iPads to Facebook. The managers, from Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Ohio, were clear…technology adoption is in a fast and furious mode, unlike any time in the utility industry’s history. [...]

Breaking Down the FCC Order: VoIP-PSTN billing

This blog is an update to an earlier blog titled VoIP is Access Billable. In the FCC USF/ICC Reform Order that will be effective December 29, 2011 (assuming there are no requests for reconsideration and appeal), under Section XIV., titled Intercarrier Compensation for VoIP Traffic, paragraph 933 says, “Default intercarrier compensation rates for toll VoIP-PSTN [...]

Breaking Down the FCC Order: Recovery Mechanism

The FCC is adopting a transitional recovery mechanism for incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (LECs) to facilitate the gradual transition away from intercarrier compensation (ICC) revenues that will be reduced by the Order.  This recovery mechanism is not 100 percent revenue-neutral to today’s revenues. The rate-of-return incumbent LECs’ baseline for recovery will be based on: 2011 [...]

Breaking Down the FCC Order: ICC Rates

The FCC Commissioners unanimously approved the FCC USF/ICC Reform Order on October 27, 2011, and released the Order on November 18, 2011.  The Order was published in the Federal Register on November 29, 2011, making the effective date December 29, 2011, (assuming there are no requests for reconsideration and appeal). While December 29 is the [...]

Inside Telecom: FCC Order Released

On November 18, the FCC released its Universal Service Fund (USF) and Intercarrier Compensation (ICC) Reform Order that was approved at its October 27 meeting. The order is full of details, but still leaves some questions unanswered, creates new questions and several paragraphs can be open to interpretation. One section that may be a surprise [...]

Inside Telecom: VoIP is Access Billable

When the Universal Service Fund (USF) and Intercarrier Compensation (ICC) Reform Order is released by the FCC, the order is expected to identify that Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) usage terminating to the Public Switched Telecommunications Network (PSTN) is billable at interstate access rates.  Identifying that VoIP is access billable is a huge step, one [...]

Honor Flight, A Memorable Day in D.C. With My Dad

In March of 2010, I was watching our local news channel early one morning and was drawn to a live story about an organization called, Honor Flight of St. Louis. The volunteers from this organization were gathering a group of elderly men at Lambert St. Louis Airport for a flight to Washington D.C. As I [...]

Inside Telecom: FCC Approves USF/ICC Reform Order

The FCC has been trying to reform the Universal Service Fund (USF) and Intercarrier Compensation (ICC) for many years. On October 27, 2011, the FCC unanimously approved an Order to begin meeting this goal. Here are some of the key items included in this Order: A firm and comprehensive budget will be established for the [...]