The FCC has released a public notice seeking comment on a petition filed by USTelecom – The Broadband Association, requesting that the Commission grant “nationwide forbearance from outmoded regulatory mandates that distort competition and investment decisions.” Specifically, the petition seeks forbearance from the Commission’s application of certain statutory provisions and regulations that USTelecom characterizes as falling into the following three categories: (1) ILEC-specific unbundling and resale mandates in Section 251(c)(3) and (4) and associated obligations under Sections 251 and 252; (2) RBOC-specific time interval requirements under Section 272(e)(l) for nondiscriminatory treatment of affiliates and non-affiliates regarding requests for service, and the long-distance separate affiliate requirement for independent ILECs set out in Section 64.1903 of the Commission’s rules; and (3) RBOC-specific competitive checklist items regarding access to poles, ducts, conduits, and rights-of-way found in Section 271(c)(2)(B)(iii) of the Commission’s rules. Comments and oppositions are due on or before Thursday, June 7, 2018 and reply comments are due on or before Friday, June 22, 2018.
