Comptel backed the Michigan Public Service Commission decision Tuesday (CD March 19 p19) requiring AT&T Michigan and Sprint to file an interconnection agreement with the agency. “By requiring IP interconnection agreements to be publicly filed and enabling others to simply opt into them, the Michigan PSC is fulfilling its role under the Telecom Act, making it easier for carriers to focus on their core business of serving consumers and ensuring that AT&T cannot discriminate in the marketplace,” said Comptel CEO Chip Pickering in a statement Wednesday (http://tinyurl.com/pls5mda). “Simplifying and speeding the process of interconnection will save carriers time and money, and ultimately benefit consumers.” He called the ruling “a defining moment as the communications industry transitions to IP technology” that “sets a precedent for other states to follow.” The PSC rejected a proposed interconnection agreement between the companies to resolve an IP interconnection dispute (http://tinyurl.com/nmuglcw) in which Sprint had sought a ruling saying AT&T was obligated under the 1996 Telecom Act to interconnect to it. “Sprint appreciates the work conducted by the Michigan Public Service Commission on IP Interconnection issues,” is “closely reviewing” the decision and will respond shortly to the agency, said a spokesman in a statement Tuesday. An AT&T Michigan spokesman declined comment.

The Alabama Public Service Commission didn’t track whether the roughly 750 complaints it received last year about phone companies were resolved to the satisfaction of the customer, a PSC spokeswoman told us Wednesday. Explaining a recently approved Alabama measure (http://bit.ly/PucWgY) stripping the PSC’s authority to follow up on consumer complaints, the measure’s author, Republican State Rep. Mike Hill, told us the PSC was essentially acting as an “answering service” by simply forwarding complaints to the companies (CD March 18 p10). Asked whether the PSC had been able to resolve the complaints it received, its spokeswoman said in a statement: “All complaints are resolved one way or the other and many of these are resolved in the customer’s favor.” Many “complaints result from consumer misunderstanding about service terms, rates, and conditions or misinterpretation of prior oral or written communication with company marketing representatives,” she said. “Such conflicts may be resolved to the consumer’s satisfaction but not necessarily in their favor."

Verizon has been allowing its copper network to deteriorate in an attempt to push landline customers to its FiOS and Voice Link services, The Utility Reform Network (TURN) alleged in an emergency motion filed (http://tinyurl.com/oyhclhx) with the California Public Utilities Commission Tuesday. The motion seeks a CPUC order requiring Verizon to repair the service for copper-based landline phone customers who have requested repair or wish to retain the copper services they were cut off from. “Verizon is deliberately neglecting the repair and maintenance of its copper network with the explicit goal of migrating basic telephone service customers who experience service problems,” the motion said. “These migrations are often without the customers’ knowledge or consent. Moreover, Verizon is migrating these customers to a largely deregulated fiber-based telephone service that is inferior to basic phone service in certain key respects.” The motion noted VoIP services are susceptible to power outages. “The CPUC should not turn its back on basic phone customers, or allow Verizon to renege on its obligations to provide reliable service,” said TURN Telecommunications Director Regina Costa in a news release. “It should not permit Verizon to maximize profits while minimizing the service Californians receive.” Verizon “remains focused on providing our customers with the best possible service over the platforms that we have available to them,” said a spokesman by email. “Where our all-fiber network is available, it provides a reliable platform that can support anything ranging from traditional telephone service to next-generation technology services, depending on the customer’s needs. We are reviewing the filing and will respond as appropriate to the California Public Utilities Commission.” A CPUC spokeswoman wasn’t immediately available.

The FCC has set out the right standards as part of the ongoing IP transition data collection initiative, said a California Public Utilities Commission filing (http://tinyurl.com/ooxboub) posted Tuesday to FCC docket 13-5. The data is to measure consumer experience with the IP transition. The CPUC said the data should be gathered and collected through an open, transparent process. It should be collected from multiple sources, including in collaboration with other federal agencies, state, local, tribal governments and leaders, said CPUC. It said clear and consistent definitions and metrics are needed to provide a comprehensive picture of the technology transitions experience. The data should also be publicly available, CPUC said.

The proposed agreement between AT&T Michigan and Sprint to resolve their IP interconnection dispute was rejected by the Michigan Public Service Commission (http://tinyurl.com/nmuglcw) Tuesday. Sprint had sought a ruling saying AT&T was obligated under the 1996 Telecommunications Act to interconnect to them. AT&T had argued it was under no such requirement for IP interconnections. Under the proposed agreement filed Feb 25 (CD Feb 27 p16), the sides agreed all traffic Sprint exchanges with AT&T would be delivered in TDM format. They left the IP dispute in the air, saying should they not be able to resolve the issue, they may, on or around July 15, amend the agreement to include IP interconnection. The PSC ruled Tuesday that the sides have to file any contingency agreement they might have, should they not reach an agreement with the commission. The PSC said other providers have a right to see it to make sure their agreements with AT&T are fair. The agreement has to be filed by April 1. AT&T and Sprint had no comment.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission backs TracFone’s Wireline Bureau petition to be able to retain data used to establish Lifeline eligibility, said an OCC filing posted Tuesday to FCC docket 12-23 (http://bit.ly/1fFL2DP). Other eligible telecom carriers in Oklahoma also should be waived from prohibitions on data retention, said OCC. “Providing for document retention, as requested by TracFone in its petition” would let the Public Utility Division “more readily identify ... errors which furthers the goal to ensure enrollment of only eligible Lifeline subscribers,” said OCC.

A bill approved by the Missouri House of Representatives Thursday would change the state’s distinction as the only one in the nation that doesn’t charge wireless customers a 911 fee. HB-1573 (http://tinyurl.com/qj5fk43), sponsored by Rep. Jeanie Lauer (R), moves to the Senate where Lauer expects approval. The measure wouldn’t impose a statewide requirement. It authorizes local governments to impose a monthly fee of up to $1.50 on “any communications service capable of contacting 911” solely for funding 911 service in the jurisdiction, if approved by voters. The state now has a fee and sales tax on landlines to fund 911 services. As the number of customers who use that technology has dropped, it has caused a funding shortfall for 911 services, Lauer said.

Removal of the Alabama Public Services Commission’s authority to investigate customer complaints against phone companies (CD March 13 p14) “was not as big a deal as it seems,” said the author of the measure that removed the power, State Rep. Mike Hill, a Republican (http://bit.ly/PucWgY). The APSC had no regulatory authority over the companies, Hill wrote in an email Saturday in response to our inquiry the previous week. “The only thing the PSC was doing was acting as an answering service. They received the complaint, sent it to the phone company, and reported back to the resident when the phone company replied to them.” Customers who aren’t able to get satisfaction with their company can go to another provider, he said. The APSC was neutral on the bill. A spokeswoman said in an email that the agency handled 750 complaints last year. In most cases, customers complained to the APSC after being unable to resolve problems with their provider, the spokeswoman said.

A measure that would make it easier for Michigan telecom companies to stop providing landline service (CD Feb 19 p11) passed the state House Tuesday. A leading critic said the measure is likely to survive a conference committee with the Senate and be enacted. SB-636 (http://1.usa.gov/1feaIv2) would allow ILECs including AT&T to stop providing landline service as of Jan. 1, 2017, without approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission. Under an amendment added to the bill, companies that drop landline service would be required to follow any guidelines, rules or regulations set out in the FCC IP transition trials. “AARP remains concerned that some people could be left without affordable, reliable phone service when this bill takes effect. Also, it does not provide the consumer protections that are in current telecommunications law,” said the critic, Melissa Seifert, AARP Michigan associate state director-governmental affairs, in a statement. Jim Murray, president of AT&T Michigan, said in a statement that the bill, if signed by Gov. Rick Snyder (R), would “update Michigan regulations to make it easier for phone companies like AT&T to invest in new, more efficient communications services.” Under the bill, ending landline service would still require FCC approval, but not from the MPSC. If a customer filed a complaint after the discontinuation of service, the MPSC would investigate whether the area still has comparable voice service, including VoIP and wireless, with reliable access to emergency service. If not, the MPSC could declare an emergency in the area, saying it’s not served by at least one voice service provider offering comparable voice service with reliable access to 911 and other emergency services. The MPSC could then ask other providers to voluntarily provide the service, including through VoIP or wireless, but it couldn’t force the current provider to do so. If there’s no willing provider, the provider that ended the service would be required to step back in. If VoIP, wireless or another technology were able to provide the service, the provider would not have to continue traditional landline service.

The first discounted wireless plan for California’s LifeLine program was approved Tuesday by the California Public Utilities Commission. The CPUC selected Telscape Communications as the first authorized wireless provider for the state-funded LifeLine project, said a news release (http://bit.ly/1nhvOP9). Discounted wireless plans have been offered in the state under the federal Lifeline program. Telscape will offer three discounted plans, ranging from 1,000 voice minutes and 200 text messages for free to unlimited voice, text and data for $33.10 a month. LifeLine subsidies will allow Telscape to waive activation fees. The CPUC said it expects other wireless providers to be authorized in the future.