DOJ Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against AT&T

The Department of Justice today filed an antitrust lawsuit to stop AT&T’s acquisition of T-Mobile. 

The proposed $39 billion purchase would have merged two of the four largest wireless service providers in the country. Both companies compete in 97 of the largest 100 cellular markets.

In a press release, Deputy Attorney General James Cole said, “The combination of AT&T and T-Mobile would result in tens of millions of consumers all across the United States facing higher prices, fewer choices and lower quality products for mobile wireless services.” 

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski’s statement indicates his agency also had concerns about the merger. Read his statement here.

Click here to read the DOJ press release.

NANPA Planning Letter (PL) Number 425 – Western Quebec – NPA Code 873 to Overlay NPA 819

Implementation of NPA 873 in Western Quebec, Canada, has been changed to 9/15/2012. The new date advances introduction of the new area code by nearly nine months. 

The relief method stays the same, with a distributed overlay of NPA 873 over area code 819. All local calls will continue to be dialed with 10 digits.

Network testing begins 6/17/2012. For testing numbers and a map of the affected area, go to www.nanpa.com.

FCC Announces Plan to Advance Deployment of NG9-1-1 

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski released a five-step plan of action that aims to improve deployment of Next Generation 9-1-1, an IP-based emergency communications system. The current model, E9-1-1, has been around since the 1970’s and operates on a circuit-switched system.  

The steps include:

      1. Develop location accuracy mechanisms for NG911

      2. Enable consumers to send text, photos, and videos to Public Safety    

          Answering Points (PSAPs)

      3. Facilitate the completion and implementation of NG911 technical   
          standards

      4. Develop a NG911 governance framework

      5. Develop an NG911 Funding Model

As part of the process, the FCC will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) next month.

Here’s a link to the FCC’s fact sheet.

NANPA Planning Letter (PL) Number 424 – NPA 566 for Personal Communications Services  

Assignment of NPA 566 for Personal Communications Services (PCS) has now been added to the NANPA website.

NANPA assigned the 566 NPA for PCS, because the supply of 5YY NXXs is expected to run out in late 2011 or early 2012.

NANPA assigned 423 5YY codes from January 1 through August 1, 2011. As of August 5, there are 395 available. 

A date has not been set for activation of NPA 566. 

For more information, visit www.nanpa.com.

NANPA Planning Letter (PL) Number 423 – Sint Maarten – Introduction of NPA 721

Implementation of a new NPA 721 in Sint Maarten begins with a permissive dialing period. During that time, either the current country code of 599 or NPA 721 will be accepted.

Key dates are:

• 9/30/2011: Permissive dialing begins; latest date for carriers to activate NPA 721.
• 9/30/2012: Mandatory NPA 721 dialing begins.
• 9/30/2013: Earliest date for end of recorded announcement.

Once the permissive dialing period ends, a recorded message will instruct callers to dial the correct country code (1) and area code (721). Country code 599 will continue to be used in Curacao, Sint Eustatius, Saba and Bonaire.

For network testing numbers and a map of the affected area, go to www.nanpa.com.

FCC Defends Release of Confidential Data

In June, I blogged about John Staurulakis, Inc. objecting to the release of its clients’ confidential information during the Universal Service Reform proceeding. The FCC has now ruled against the company’s objection and ordered data be released to the law firm Levine, Blaszak, Block and Boothby.

Click here to read the FCC’s order.

Facebook Adds Video Calling Feature

Millions of Facebook users can now use a video calling feature, powered by Skype, to chat with their friends. Facebook announced the new service Wednesday, a week after Google announced its new social networking project called Google+.

Skype’s new partnership will give the software provider access to Facebook’s 750 million users. Skype is a Luxembourg based company with 170 million users. 

Microsoft, which owns a partial stake in Facebook, is in the process of acquiring Skype for $8.5 billion.

Pennsylvania Approves Access Charge Reform

Intrastate carrier access rates in Pennsylvania will be coming down as a result of a June 30 decision by the Public Utility Commission (PUC). It’s estimated to reduce access charges by $50 million for Interexchange Carriers.

• The intrastate access rate will gradually be reduced to $2.50 per access line.
• Local exchange carriers can recoup losses by increasing residential and business rates over a four-year period.
• The PUC will begin a rulemaking proceeding to consider changes to the state’s Universal Service Fund.

The PUC’s latest move falls in line with the FCC’s National Broadband plan, part of which attempts to rebalance local service rates with actual costs, rather than being subsidized by customers’ long distance rates. The FCC’s plan also calls for the elimination of per-minute intercarrier compensation (ICC) charges over a ten-year period.

You can read more on my April 2010 blog about the effects of the National Broadband Plan on ICC.

Read the PUC press release here.