Federal Communications Commission	DA 22-504


Before the
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554

In the Matter of

National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc.
2022 Modification of Average Schedules

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WC Docket No. 21-473

ORDER
Adopted: May 11, 2022 		Released: May 11, 2022 

By the Chief, Pricing Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau:

1. In this Order, we approve the formulas for average-schedule interstate settlement disbursements in connection with the provision of interstate access services proposed by the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc. (NECA), pursuant to section 69.606 of the Commission’s rules, for a one-year period beginning July 1, 2022. Letter from Robert J. Deegan, Director-Government Relations, NECA, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 21-473, Attach., NECA 2022 Modification of Average Schedules (filed Dec. 22, 2021) (NECA’s 2022 Filing); 47 CFR § 69.606(b).  
  For the reasons set forth below, we approve the average-schedule formulas proposed by NECA. 
2. On December 22, 2021 and pursuant to section 69.606(b) of the Commission’s rules, NECA submitted proposed revisions to formulas used to calculate average-schedule settlement disbursements for interstate access services for the one-year period beginning July 1, 2022 (we refer to this filing as “NECA’s 2022 filing”). NECA’s 2022 Filing at 1. 
  The Wireline Competition Bureau sought comment on NECA’s 2022 filing in a public notice released February 10, 2022. Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment on the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc.’s Proposed Modification of Average Schedule Formulas, WC Docket No. 21-473, Public Notice, DA 22-132, 2022 WL 425385, at *1 (WCB Feb. 10, 2022).
  No comments or reply comments were filed. 
3. According to NECA, the methods described in its 2022 filing use the same methods NECA employed in last year’s filing, for the tariff year July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. NECA’s 2022 Filing, Attach. at 1.
  NECA’s proposed formula changes would result in a 2.8% overall increase in average-schedule settlement disbursements at constant demand. Id.
  NECA expects actual settlement disbursements “to increase by less (2% on average) due to projected losses of access lines and reductions in demand for special access services.” Id.
  As NECA explains, the impact of the proposed changes “on individual average schedule companies will vary depending on each company’s size, demand trends and other characteristics.” Id.

4. We have reviewed NECA’s 2022 filing and find that its proposed modifications of average-schedule settlement disbursement formulas are reasonable. 
5. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to sections 0.91, 0.291, and 69.606(a) of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 0.91, 0.291, 69.606(a), that the average-schedule formulas proposed by the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc., on December 22, 2021 SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE July 1, 2022, and remain in effect through June 30, 2023.
6. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to section 1.102(b) of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR § 1.102(b), that this Order SHALL BE EFFECTIVE upon release.

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION




Gil M. Strobel
Chief 
Pricing Policy Division
Wireline Competition Bureau


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