JSI Reminds Clients of 2 Upcoming Filing Deadlines

April 1 Deadline for Service Accessibility Compliance Certification
The FCC released a Public Notice to remind service providers of the upcoming April 1 deadline to submit their certifications concerning accessibility of services to the disabled. The rules apply to all telecommunications providers, as well as to providers of advanced communications services and mobile phones with web browsers. The filing must be completed via the FCC’s Recordkeeping and Compliance Certification and Contact Information Registry. Providers are to certify their compliance for calendar year 2015. Specifically, providers are to certify operating procedures have been established to:

• Document efforts to consult with individuals with disabilitiesu037e
• Document the accessibility features of products and servicesu037e and
• Record information about the compatibility of such products and services with peripheral devices or specialized customer premise equipment commonly used by individuals with disabilities to achieve access.

Your company and each affiliate that provides telecom services must submit certifications and contact information. If previously submitted contact information remains current, the 2016 submission need only include the new compliance certification. We remind clients that any updates to contact information must be made in the online registry within 30 days of the change.

May 2 Deadline for Long Distance Rate Integration and Averaging Certification
Each non-dominant provider of detariffed interstate interexchange service must certify by May 2 that it provides service in compliance with the geographic rate average and rate integration obligations pursuant to section 254(g) of the Communications Act.

Geographic rate averaging prohibits a company from charging different rates for calls of similar geographic scope. Providers must certify annually by May 1 that pricing policies are not discriminatory among rural and high cost areas and that rates charged in each state are no higher than rates charged to any other state. Since May 1 falls on a Sunday, the 2016 deadline is Monday, May 2.

Clients who need assistance with these filings may contact Kim Waldvogel in the Maryland office at 301u00ad-459-u00ad7590.

Source: JSI e-Lert