FCC's Rural Call Completion Task Force

Rural Call Completion Task Force
Federal Communications Commission
October 18, 2011
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-309841A1.pdf

The Task Force will hold a workshop – tentatively scheduled for October 18 – to identify specific causes of the problem and discuss potential solutions with key stakeholders. Details about the workshop are forthcoming.

Issues for the Task Force and Workshop include:

• The extent of the call termination problem in rural areas
• The causes of the problem, including whether carriers are violating the law by blocking or restricting calls to other carriers
• Actions that can be taken by the Commission to address the problem

Agenda

9:15 am Opening Remarks

9:30 – 10:30 am Panel One: Rural Call Completion Problems - Causes and Effects
Moderator:
· Jeff Goldthorp, Associate Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, FCC

Discussion Topics:
· Analysis of symptoms and scope of problem based upon data collected
· Effects on customers
· Possible causes, including roles of least-cost routing, wireless call quality, IP-based technology interoperability, and incidence of intentional call blocking

Panelists:
· Robert Gnapp, NECA
· Fritz Hendricks, Onvoy Voice Services
· Denny Law, Golden West Telecommunications
· Dave Lewis, ANPI / Zone Telecom
· Kim Meola, AT&T Services, Inc.
· Dale Merten, Toledo Telephone
· Tami Spocogee, PAETEC

10:30 – 10:45 am Question and Answer Session with Panel

10:45 – 11:00 am Break

11:00 – 12:00 pm Panel Two: How Can Rural Call Completion Problems be Addressed?
Moderator:
· Deena Shetler, Associate Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau, FCC

Discussion Topics:
· Facilitating information sharing among carriers
· Least cost routing contracts requirements
· Industry-consensus solutions including best practices, interoperability and performance profiles, and new technical standards
· Possible regulatory solutions

Panelists:
· Scott Booth, Verizon
· Jill Canfield, NTCA
· Martin Corso, TDS Telecommunications Corp.
· Penn Pfautz, AT&T Services, Inc.
· Rick Ratliff, Sprint

12:00 – 12:15 pm Question and Answer Session with Panel