Federal Communications Commission DA 21-1544 DA 21-1544 Released: December 10, 2021 WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON STIR/SHAKEN IMPLEMENTATION VERIFICATION CERTIFICATIONS WC Docket No. 20-68 Comments Due: December 30, 2021 Reply Comments Due: January 10, 2022 By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) seeks comment on voice service provider STIR/SHAKEN implementation verification certifications. In the TRACED Act, Congress directed the Commission to grant exemptions from the STIR/SHAKEN implementation mandate for voice service providers that could demonstrate voluntary early implementation progress by December 30, 2020. TRACED Act § 4(b)(2). Voice service providers seeking to qualify for the exemption were obligated to submit a certification and supporting statement by December 1, 2020, explaining in detail how they met each prong of the exemption sought. Call Authentication Trust Anchor, WC Docket No. 17-97, Second Report and Order, 36 FCC Rcd 1859, 1916, para. 117 (2020) (Second Caller ID Authentication Report and Order); see also 47 CFR § 64.6306(c); Wireline Competition Bureau Provides Directions and Filing Information Regarding Caller ID Authentication Exemption Certifications, WC Docket No. 20-68, Public Notice, 35 FCC Rcd 12847, 12848 (Nov. 9, 2020). The Commission required any voice service provider granted an exemption to verify in a second certification, after June 30, 2021, that it achieved the implementation goals to which it first certified. Second Caller ID Authentication Report and Order, 36 FCC Rcd at 1918, para. 121; see 47 CFR § 64.6306(a)(4). Seven voice service providers sought exemptions for their IP networks. In December 2020, the Bureau found that all seven voice service providers qualified for the exemption, Wireline Competition Bureau Announces Seven Voice Service Providers Qualified for STIR/SHAKEN Exemption, WC Docket Nos. 17-97, 20-68, Public Notice, 35 FCC Rcd 14830 (Dec. 23, 2020). and in September 2021 the Bureau released filing instructions for the required implementation verification certifications. See Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment on Two TRACED Act Obligations Regarding Caller ID Authentication, WC Docket Nos. 17-97 and 20-68, Public Notice, DA 21-1103 (2021). All providers granted an exemption filed an implementation verification certification. We now seek comment on those certifications. Cox Implementation Verification Certification, WC Docket No. 20-68 (filed Sep. 24, 2021); Comcast Caller ID Authentication Certification, WC Docket No. 20-68 (filed Oct. 4, 2021); Charter Certification of Full Implementation, WC Docket No. 20-68 (filed Oct. 4, 2021); AT&T Certification for Exemption, WC Docket No. 20-68 (filed Oct. 4, 2021); Vonage STIR/SHAKEN Certification, WC Docket No. 20-68 (filed Oct. 4, 2021); Verizon Verification, WC Docket No. 20-68 (filed Oct. 15, 2021); Bandwidth Exemption Verification Status, WC Docket No. 20-68 (filed Oct. 21, 2021). Vonage submitted its certification with redactions and requested confidential treatment for its filing under section 0.459 of our rules. See Vonage STIR/SHAKEN Certification; 47 CFR § 0.459. Commenters wishing to view an unredacted version of Vonage’s certification may request access pursuant to section 0.461 of our rules. See 47 CFR § 0.461. Pursuant to section 0.459(d)(3) of our rules, the Commission will defer acting on Vonage’s request for confidential treatment until a request for inspection has been made pursuant to section 0.461. See 47 CFR § 0.459(d)(3). Pursuant to section 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments on or before 30 days after release of this Public Notice. Filing Requirements. All filings must refer to WC Docket No. 20-68. Comments may be filed using ECFS. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998). § Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing ECFS: https://www.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 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. § 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 45 L Street, NE, Washington DC 20554. § Effective March 19, 2020, and until further notice, the Commission no longer accepts any hand or messenger delivered filings. This is a temporary measure taken to help protect the health and safety of individuals, and to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. See FCC Announces Closure of FCC Headquarters Open Window and Change in Hand-Delivery Policy, Public Notice, 35 FCC Rcd 2788 (Mar. 19, 2020), https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-closes-headquarters-open-window-and-changes-hand-delivery-policy. 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 & Government Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-7433. Ex Parte Rules. This proceeding shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules. See 47 CFR §§ 1.1200 et seq. 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 presenters 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 section 1.1206(b) of the Commission’s rules. In proceedings governed by section 1.49(f) of the rules 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). Id. § 1.1206(b). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules. Contact Information. For further information, please contact Alexander Hobbs, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202) 418-2343 or by email at alexander.hobbs@fcc.gov. - FCC - 2