Federal Communications Commission DA 17-1009
Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
In the Matter of
Business Data Services in an Internet Protocol
Environment
Technology Transitions
Special Access for Price Cap Local Exchange 
Carriers
AT&T Corporation Petition for Rulemaking to 
Reform Regulation of Incumbent Local Exchange 
Carrier Rates for Interstate Special Access Services
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WC Docket No. 16-143
GN Docket No. 13-5
WC Docket No. 05-25
RM-10593
ORDER
Adopted:  October 13, 2017 Released: October 13, 2017
By the Chief, Pricing Policy Division:
15-DAY TARIFF FILINGS: November 16, 2017
PETITIONS: November 24, 2017
REPLIES: November 28, 2017 (due no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time) 
7-DAY TARIFF FILINGS: November 27, 2017
PETITIONS: November 29, 2017 (due no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time)
REPLIES: November 30, 2017 (due no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time)
I. INTRODUCTION
1. This Order establishes procedures for the filing of access charge tariff revisions and Tariff 
Review Plans (TRPs) for incumbent local exchange carriers (LECs) subject to price cap regulation (price 
cap LECs) pursuant to the Commission’s Business Data Services Order.
1
  Price cap LECs are required to 
make such filings to implement the new productivity offset (or X-factor) adopted in the Business Data 
Services Order, to become effective on December 1, 2017.
2
  This Order sets an effective date of 
December 1, 2017 for tariff filings made on 15 days’ notice and sets a modified effective date of 
December 4, 2017, for tariff filings made on 7 days’ notice.
3
  This Order also makes available revised 
TRP worksheets to support any necessary rate revisions reflected in price cap LEC business data (or 
                                                     
1
See Business Data Services in an Internet Protocol Environment et al., WC Docket No. 16-143 et al., Report and 
Order, 32 FCC Rcd 3459 (2017) (Business Data Services Order).
2
Business Data Services Order, 32 FCC Rcd at 3563, para. 257.  See 47 CFR § 61.45.  
3
To establish an effective date of December 4, 2017, for the tariff filings made on 7 days’ notice, we grant a limited 
waiver of 47 CFR § 61.45(b)(1)(iv), to the extent that this rule would otherwise require the filings to be effective as 
of December 1, 2017. Absent a waiver, carriers would be required to file their tariffs on November 24, the day after 
Thanksgiving, which could present filing difficulties for carriers. Under this limited waiver, carriers are required to 
make their tariff filings on November 27, 2017, to become effective on December 4, 2017. 
Federal Communications Commission DA 17-1009
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special access) tariffs.  The TRP worksheets display basic data on rate development in a consistent 
manner, thereby facilitating review of the rate revisions by the Commission and interested parties.  
II. BACKGROUND
2. On April 28, 2017, the Commission released the Business Data Services Order, which, 
among other things, provided pricing and other regulatory relief for certain business data services 
provided by price cap LECs in competitive and grandfathered areas and modified the regulatory 
obligations for tariffed special access services provided by price cap LECs in noncompetitive areas.
4
  
Only the end user channel terminations and certain other noncompetitive business data services in 
noncompetitive areas remain subject to price cap regulation, and the Commission  adopted an X-factor of 
2.0 percent for these services.
5
The X-factor adjusts a price cap LEC’s price cap index (PCI) to account 
for the productivity gains by which price cap LECs are expected to outperform economy-wide 
productivity gains.
6
3. To implement the revised X-factor, the Commission required price cap LECs to make a one-
time filing revising their TRPs and rates for the special access basket to reflect the 2.0 percent X-factor,
effective December 1, 2017.
7
  To ease the burden on industry, and because base period demand and the
value of GDP-PI reflected in the PCI typically are not updated during a tariff year, the Commission
permitted price cap LECs to use the same base period demand and value of GDP-PI in their December 1, 
2017 filings as in their July 1, 2017 annual filings.
8
  The Commission stated that further specific direction 
on the material required to be filed in the TRPs would be provided in a public notice or order preceding 
the effective date of the revised X-factor.
9
  We hereby provide such direction.
III. DISCUSSION
A. Tariff Effective Date and Tariff Filing Dates
4. For rates to be deemed lawful under section 204(a)(3) of the Act, price cap LECs must make 
their tariff filing either fifteen or seven days prior to the effective date of their tariffs, depending on the 
type of changes proposed.
10
  We therefore direct price cap LECs to file access tariffs which require 15 
days’ notice (rate increases) to be deemed lawful on November 16, 2017, to become effective on 
December 1, 2017.  Pursuant to the limited waiver granted herein, any filing that only requires seven 
days’ notice (rate reductions) should be filed on November 27, 2017, to become effective on December 4, 
2017.
B. Price Cap TRP Spreadsheets and Workpapers
5. Pursuant to the rules adopted in the Business Data Services Order, price cap LECs must file,
for the special access basket, revised TRPs and rates to reflect the new 2.0 percent X-factor, effective 
                                                     
4
See generally Business Data Services Order, 32 FCC Rcd 3459.
5
Id. at 3543, para. 197.
6
Id. at 3544, para. 198; see also 47 CFR § 61.45(b)(1)(i).  
7
Business Data Services Order, 32 FCC Rcd at 3563, para. 259.  See 47 CFR § 61.45(b)(1)(iv).  The effective date 
for tariff filings made on 7 days’ notice has been modified herein from December 1, 2017, to December 4, 2017.  
See supra para. 1, note 3.
8
Business Data Services Order, 32 FCC Rcd at 3563, para. 258.  See Material to be Filed in Support of 2017Annual 
Access Tariff Filings, WC Docket No. 17-65, Order, 32 FCC Rcd 4740 (2017) (2017 Annual Filing TRP Order).
See also supra para. 1, note 3.
9
Business Data Services Order, 32 FCC Rcd at 3564, para. 259.
10
47 U.S.C. § 204(a)(3).
Federal Communications Commission DA 17-1009
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December 1 or 4, 2017.
11
  Price cap LECs also must exclude the demand for special access services in 
competitive and grandfathered areas from the price cap calculations.
12
  The new 2.0 percent X-factor 
should be reflected in the PCI for the special access basket and the pricing bands for each service category 
and subcategory within this basket.
13
Special access rates for services in noncompetitive areas must be 
established at levels where the actual price index does not exceed the PCI and the service band index for 
each service category and subcategory does not exceed its upper limit.  Price cap LECs are permitted to 
use the same base period demand, excluding demand for competitive and grandfathered services, and 
value of GDP-PI in their December 1 or 4, 2017 filings as in their July 1, 2017 annual filings.
14
  
Otherwise, price cap LECs must base the price cap calculations on the Commission’s rules for an annual 
filing.
15
C. Tariff and Tariff Review Plan Filing Instructions
6. Price cap LECs must use the Commission’s Electronic Tariff Filing System (ETFS) to file all 
of their tariff material.
16
  Price cap LECs should make every effort to file as early in the day as possible to 
avoid any complications in meeting the November 16, 2017 and November 27, 2017, pre-7:00 p.m. 
Eastern Time deadlines for filing in the ETFS.  Price cap LEC tariff filings must be received by ETFS 
after 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 15, 2017 and before 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 16, 
2017 for the filing to be considered officially received on November 16, 2017.  Price cap LEC tariff 
filings must be received after 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 26, 2017, and before 7:00 p.m. 
Eastern Time on November 27, 2017, for the filing to be considered officially received on November 27, 
2017.
7. Copies of the information filed electronically may be obtained via the Internet using ETFS at 
https://apps.fcc.gov/etfs/etfsHome.action.  For more information, contact either Robin Cohn or Richard 
Kwiatkowski, Pricing Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202) 418-1540.
D. Pleading Filing Dates and Procedures
8. Pursuant to sections 1.419 and 1.773 of the Commission’s rules,
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interested parties may file 
petitions to suspend or reject tariff filings, and replies thereto, on or before the dates indicated on the first 
page of this document.  Pleadings should reference WC Docket No. 16-143, and may be filed by paper 
copies or by using the Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS).
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9. In accordance with the tariff filing schedule, petitions to suspend or reject tariff filings made 
on 15 days’ notice will be due November 24, 2017, and replies will be due no later 12:00 p.m. (noon) 
Eastern Time on November 28, 2017.  Petitions to suspend or reject tariff filings made on 7 days’ notice 
will be due no later 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time on November 29, and replies will be due no later 
than 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time on November 30, 2017.
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11
Business Data Services Order, 32 FCC Rcd at 3563, para. 259.  See 47 CFR § 61.45(b)(1)(iv). See also supra 
para. 1, note 3.
12
See 47 CFR § 69.807(a) and (c).  See also 47 CFR § 69.801(e).  
13
Business Data Services Order, 32 FCC Rcd at 3563, para. 259.
14
Id. at 3563, para. 258. See supra para. 1, note 3.  
15
See id. at 3563-64, para. 260.  See 47 CFR §§ 61.45-47.
16
47 CFR § 61.13(b).
17
47 CFR §§ 1.419, 1.773.
18
See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 Fed. Reg. 24121 (1998).
19
We waive any inconsistent portions of sections 1.4(f), 1.773(a), and 1.773(b) of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 
§§ 1.4(f), 1.773(a), 1.773(b).
Federal Communications Commission DA 17-1009
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? Electronic Filers:  Pleadings may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: 
http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs.
? Paper Filers:  Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each 
filing.  Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by 
first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail.  All filings must be addressed to the 
Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
? All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary must 
be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 12
th
St., SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 
20554.  The filing hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  All hand deliveries must be held together 
with rubber bands or fasteners.  Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the 
building.
? Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) 
must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701.
? U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 445 12
th
Street, SW, Washington DC 20554.
10. People with Disabilities:  To request materials in accessible formats for people with 
disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call 
the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty).
11. A courtesy copy of any petitions and replies must also be e-mailed to Richard Kwiatkowski, 
Pricing Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12
th
Street, SW, Room 5-A460, Washington, DC 20554, Richard.Kwiatkowski@fcc.gov.  In addition, a 
courtesy copy must be addressed to the Chief, Pricing Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 
12
th
Street, SW, Room 5-A221, Washington, DC 20554 and e-mailed to Robin.Cohn@fcc.gov.
12. The proceeding this Notice initiates shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in 
accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules.
20
  Persons making ex parte presentations must file a 
copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two 
business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies).  
Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation 
must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte 
presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the 
presentation.  If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments 
already reflected in the presenter’s written comments, memoranda, or other filings in the proceeding, the 
presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or 
other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be 
found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum.  Documents shown or given to Commission 
staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed 
consistent with rule 1.1206(b).  In proceedings governed by rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has 
made available a method of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing 
oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment 
filing system available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, 
searchable .pdf).  Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex 
parte rules.
E. Service
13. Because there is limited time available for review of the petitions to suspend or reject tariff 
filings, and replies thereto, we establish the following service requirements for these filings.  On the date 
                                                     
20
47 CFR § 1.1200 et seq.
Federal Communications Commission DA 17-1009
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a filing is submitted to the Commission, it shall also be served upon the filing LEC or the petitioner to 
which it responds, respectively, or its attorney or other duly constituted agent, by personal delivery, by 
facsimile transmission, or e-mail.
21
  Parties are instructed to provide contact persons, e-mail addresses, 
and facsimile numbers in their filings.  Parties filing petitions and replies electronically are reminded they 
are still required to serve copies in accordance with the requirements stated in this paragraph.
F. Certification
14. The filing of inaccurate or incomplete data may seriously detract from the ability of the 
Commission and interested parties to evaluate the revised rates.  All price cap LECs must certify that their 
data are accurate by including a signed statement that the support data are true, correct, and complete to 
the best of the carrier’s knowledge.  This certification will apply to all data submitted in support of 
revised rates, including the data that are filed in the TRP, and should be displayed as the last page in each 
company’s filing containing its TRP.  Price cap LECs are also under a continuing legal obligation to 
correct any inaccurate or incomplete data subsequently discovered in the TRP or other support data.
G. Compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act
15. The TRP appended to this Order contains modified information collection requirements 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).
22
  The Commission has submitted this collection
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the PRA.
23
  We have requested that OMB 
expedite its review of this collection and will publish notice of any OMB approval in the Federal Register.  
In addition, we note that pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002,
24
we previously 
sought specific comment on how the Commission might further reduce the information collection burden 
for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
16. In this Order, we have assessed the effects on price cap LECs of filing the TRP and believe 
we have minimized the burden to the extent possible.  We minimize the regulatory burden on price cap
LECs by permitting carriers to use the same base period demand and value of GDP-PI in their December 
1 or 4, 2017 filings as in their July 1, 2017 annual filings.
25
  As required by the PRA, the Commission 
sought comment on the revisions to the TRPs, including the revised 2.0 percent X-factor, that set forth the 
summary material that incumbent LECs file to support revisions to the rates in their interstate access 
service tariffs.
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IV. ORDERING CLAUSES
17. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to sections 1, 4(i) and (j), 5, and 201-209 of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. §§ 151, 154(i)-(j), 155, 201-209, and sections 0.91 
and 0.291 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 0.91, 0.291, this Order IS ADOPTED.
18. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT, pursuant to sections 0.91, 0.291, and 1.3 of the 
Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 0.91, 0.291, 1.3, sections 1.4(f), 1.773(a) and 1.773(b) of the 
Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 1.4(f), 1.733(a), 1.773(b), section 61.45(b)(iv), IS WAIVED for the 
limited purpose specified in supra paragraph 1, note 3.
                                                     
21
47 CFR §§ 1.773(a)(4), (b)(3).  We waive any inconsistent portions of section 1.47(d) of the Commission’s rules.  
47 CFR § 1.47(d).
22
Pub. L. No. 104-13, 109 Stat. 17. 
23
See FCC, Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to the Office of Management and 
Budget, Notice and Request for Comments, 82 Fed. Reg. 42346, 42346-47 (Sept. 7, 2017) (FCC X-factor Notice).
24
Pub. L. No. 107-198, 116 Stat. 729. See 44 U.S.C. § 3506(c)(4).
25
See, e.g., supra para. 3.  See also 2017 Annual Filing TRP Order; supra para. 1, note 3.  
26
See FCC X-factor Notice, 82 Fed. Reg. at 42346.
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19. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to sections 0.91, 0.291, and 1.3 of the 
Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 0.91, 0.291, 1.3, sections 1.4(f), 1.773(a) and 1.773(b) of the 
Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 1.4(f), 1.733(a), 1.773(b), ARE WAIVED for the limited purpose 
specified in supra paragraph 8, note 17.
20. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to sections 0.91, 0.291, and 1.3 of the 
Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 0.91, 0.291, 1.3, section 1.47(d) of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 
§ 1.47(d), IS WAIVED for the limited purpose specified in supra paragraph 13, note 21.
21. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to section 1.102(b)(1) of the Commission’s rules, 
47 CFR § 1.102(b)(1), this Order SHALL BE EFFECTIVE upon release.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Pamela S. Arluk
Chief
Pricing Policy Division
Wireline Competition Bureau
Federal Communications Commission DA 17-1009
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https://www.fcc.gov/2017-x-factor-filing-trps