Federal Communications Commission	DA 25-398


DA 26-475
Released:  May 15, 2026

WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU REMINDS COMPETITIVE LOCAL EXCHANGE CARRIERS TO FILE REVISED TARIFFS BY JULY 16, 2026
WC Docket No. 26-50

By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) reminds competitive local exchange carriers (LECs) benchmarking their tariffed rates to competing incumbent LECs to file interstate tariff revisions, as necessary, by July 16, 2026. See 47 CFR § 61.26(c) (“If an [incumbent LEC] to which a [competitive LEC] benchmarks its rates . . . lowers the rate to which a [competitive LEC] benchmarks, the [competitive LEC] must revise its rates to the lower level within 15 days of the effective date of the lowered [incumbent LEC] rate.”). 
  
	Competitive LECs are prohibited from filing a tariffed rate for interstate switched exchange access services that is higher than “the benchmark rate”—“the rate charged for similar services by the competing [incumbent LEC].” Id.
  If an incumbent LEC to which a competitive LEC benchmarks its rates, lowers its rates, the competitive LEC “must revise its rates to the lower level within 15 days of the effective date of the lowered [incumbent LEC] rate.” Id. 
  This year, incumbent LEC’s rate reductions, which must be filed on 7-days’ notice, will be effective on July 1, 2026. July 1, 2026 Annual Access Charge Tariff Filings, WC Docket No. 26-50, Order, DA 26-254 (WCB/PPD rel. Mar. 25, 2026) (Procedures Order). 
  Accordingly, competitive LECs must file tariff revisions in the Electronic Tariff Filing System (ETFS), as necessary, reducing their applicable benchmarked rates on or before July 16, 2026 by 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. See 47 CFR § 61.26(c); Procedures Order at 3, para. 5.
  To minimize burdens on filers and to promote administrative efficiency, we encourage competitive LECs benchmarking rates to competing incumbent LECs’ rates, to file their tariff revisions after the competing incumbent LECs’ benchmarked rates become effective on July 1, 2026. 
	For more information about this Public Notice, please contact Christopher S. Koves, Pricing Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Christopher.Koves@fcc.gov.  

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