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IP: All Calls to ISPs Long Distance
From: Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>
Date: Thu, 03 Jun 1999 20:11:55 -0400
From: "Turner, Jim" <Jim.Turner () mail house gov> To: "Farber, Dave" <farber () cis upenn edu> Subject: All Calls to ISPs Long Distance Date: Thu, 3 Jun 1999 15:21:41 -0400 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2539.1) Dave, I had the communications legislative assistant for a senior California Congressman look into last week's e-mail about making calls to ISPs long distance. Here is her response. OK, this is kind of a complicated issue. It is most definitely a rumor with regard to the FCC and any federal action. CPUC is having hearings on the reciprocal compensation issue today, however it's not as clearcut as it may seem. 23 state regulatory commissions have considered the issue, and all have found that the phone company that originates the ISP call must pay reciprocal compensation, but many companies are currently withholding payment while pursuing appeals, hence the PacWest-PacBell battle. In February, the FCC issued a Declaratory Ruling concluding that carriers are bound by their existing interconnnection agreements and are subject to reciprocal compensation obligations to the extent provided by agreements or determined by state commissions. So, theoretically, CPUC could alter PacBell's obligatory compensation. However, even if they do so, which isn't fair by the way, cosumers will not be affected. The rulings have to do with reciprocal compensation only - the FCC has ruled that Internet and other information services are exempt from interstate access charges. This means that customers will continue to be able to access their ISP by dialing a seven digit number and will not incur long distance charges. To charge more for Internet access, state commissions would have to alter their local rate plans - phone companies alone can't do this. And this is something regulated by states, not by the federal government.
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- IP: All Calls to ISPs Long Distance Dave Farber (Jun 03)