Vermont Public Utility Commission Approves Revised Tariff for Perkinsville Telephone Company

Strategic Insights -

The Vermont Public Utility Commission has issued an order approving a revised tariff filed by Perkinsville Telephone Company. The revised tariff removes intercarrier charges for all intrastate originating end office access service for toll-free calls, bringing the company's access tariff into compliance with the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) report and order. The changes are effective July 1, 2023, in response to the FCC's requirement to reduce access charges and database query charges associated with 8YY (toll-free) calls.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Vermont Public Utility Commission has approved a revised tariff for Perkinsville Telephone Company, effective July 1, 2023.
  • The revised tariff removes intercarrier charges for toll-free calls, as required by the Federal Communications Commission's report and order.
  • The changes aim to reduce opportunities for abuse of the intercarrier compensation system when routing toll-free calls.
  • The revised tariff brings Perkinsville Telephone's access tariff into compliance with 47 C.F.R. SS 54.909(o) and the FCC's Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in 8YY Access Charge Reform, WC Docket No. 18-156, FCC 20-143 (Oct. 9, 2020).
  • The Vermont Department of Public Service has reviewed the proposed revisions and found them to be consistent with FCC requirements.
  • Perkinsville Telephone's proposed changes will eliminate access charges and database query charges associated with 8YY calls, reducing the risk of intercarrier compensation abuse.

Statistics:

  • The revised tariff will be effective on July 1, 2023.
  • The changes aim to reduce access charges and database query charges associated with 8YY calls.
  • The FCC's Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in 8YY Access Charge Reform was released on October 9, 2020 (FCC 20-143).
  • The requirement to reduce access charges and database query charges associated with 8YY calls was imposed by the FCC on October 9, 2020, as part of the 8YY Order in WC Docket No. 18-156.

Sources:

  • Vermont Public Utility Commission, Order No. 23-1608-TF (June 27, 2023)
  • Perkinsville Telephone Company, Tariff Filing (May 15, 2023)
  • Federal Communications Commission, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in 8YY Access Charge Reform, WC Docket No. 18-156, FCC 20-143 (Oct. 9, 2020)
  • Vermont Department of Public Service, Letter to Vermont Public Utility Commission (June 13, 2023)