FCC Advances 'Data Innovation Initiative': Eliminates Unnecessary Reporting Requirements on International Phone Traffic

As part of its Data Innovation Initiative, the Federal Communications Commission eliminated more than 25 outdated and unnecessary reporting requirements related to international telephone traffic and revenue, and sought comment on additional reforms to streamline and modernize remaining international data collections under Part 43 of the Commission’s rules. These efforts further ensure that in today’s rapidly changing markets, the Commission only collects the data it needs to make sensible policy regarding international telecommunications services.

In particular, the FCC eliminated the quarterly international traffic and revenue reporting requirements for large carriers and foreign-affiliated carriers, the annual circuit-addition report, and the telegraph toll division report. The FCC also eliminated the need to file separate international traffic and revenue reports for U.S. offshore points. The Commission concluded that the burdens to US carriers serving international routes of providing those reports now outweigh the benefits of this data. In addition, the FCC sought comment on additional reforms to streamline and modernize international reporting requirements, including establishing minimum revenue thresholds for carriers needing to file certain reports, and simplifying the type and amount of information needed in the remaining reports.

The FCC also seeks comment on whether the growth of international VoIP services and noncommon carrier circuit services prevents the Commission from getting an accurate picture of the international telecommunications market if we do not collect data on these services.