Each Kiesling office has expertise in both the state and federal regulatory environments. Employees are continually active in current proceedings and anticipating the impacts of upcoming developments. 

Kiesling consultants are intimately familiar with state statutes, regulations and policies applicable to wireline and wireless carriers. We provide guidance on initiatives such as the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA), Universal Service, provision of service to persons with disabilities, and unauthorized customer changes ("slamming").

Because of our extensive FCC experience, we have the ability to help clients reach their goals within the framework of the FCC's rules. When appropriate, we counsel clients on the feasibility of obtaining rule waivers or of asking the FCC to initiate rulemakings to change certain rules or policies.
 
-          State Compliance Areas
o   Annual Revenue Reporting
o   State Commission Annual Reports
o   Reporting of Consumer Protection, Complaints and Remediation
o   Quality of Service reporting
o   Guidance on Contractual Arrangements
Interconnection, Affiliate Agreements, Pole Attachments, Right of Way
o   E911 Emergency Service Compliance
o   State Universal Service Fund Calculations and Reporting
o   Telecommunications Relay Service Reports (TRS)
 
-          Federal Compliance Areas
o   Carrier Registration and Licensing Requirements
o   Universal Service Reports/Waivers
o   NECA Cost and Average Schedule Filings
o   Telecom Act Compliance (Interconnection Negotiation, Porting Relationships, VoIP)
o   Telecommunications Relay Service
o   CALEA Compliance
o   CPNI Annual Certification
o   Federal Trade Commission Red Flag Rules Reporting Program
o   FCC Semi-annual Number Use Forecasts Reports (NRUF)
o   NANPA Semi-Annual CIC Utilization Reports
o   International Traffic Reporting (FCC Section 43.61 filings)
o   Full Cost Support including Quick Looks, Feasibility Studies, Cost Conversions
o   USAC Audit/Review support
o    COE CPRs, Cost Allocation Manuals/Plans
 
If you would like more information regarding State or Federal Compliance requirements you face, please send an email to regulatory@kiesling.com. 

New NECA Monthly Settlement Certification Procedures

Starting with the January 2010 settlement cycle, NECA pool settlement data needs to be certified on a monthly basis. An officer or employee of the exchange carrier authorized to execute the certification of settlement data can access the certification web page (NECA.org), click on the radio button next to the current month, and complete the certification by clicking on "Submit".

For those members who are unable to certify electronically, an authorized representative can sign the Monthly Settlements Certification Form found in the pool procedures (Cost Company Exhibit 3-6 or Average Schedule Exhibit 3-5) each month and submit to their NECA regional office. This form must be received each month by the 10th workday of the month following the certification month.

Should the certification not be completed by the last workday of each settlement cycle month, an email reminder will be sent to authorized contacts, asking that the current certification be completed as soon as possible. Failure to complete monthly data certification in a timely manner may result in the disruption of settlement cash flow until compliant. Settlement certification is not necessary on NECA.org for months in which no data was submitted for both the Data Month Estimate (DME) and for the prior 24-month settlement window.

For further detail on settlement certification, NECA will update the Settlement Certification Q&A found on NECA.org. 

 

NTIA and RUS Release Second Round NOFA

NTIA and RUS have released separate Notices of Funding Availability for the second and final round of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP).  For more information on the final round of NOFAs Click Here.

OPASTCO Winter Convention
 January 23-27

NTCA Annual Meeting and Expo
 January 31 - February 3