WTA Discusses Network Performance Testing with FCC

On April 2, representatives from WTA spoke with representatives from the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau about the FCC’s broadband network performance testing rules. WTA explained that the overall problem is that the testing requirements were designed primarily for large price cap carriers, and do not take into account the very different sizes, resources and operating circumstances of RLECs and other small carriers. Similarly, what appear to be plans on review to adopt a long-term, one-size-fits-all performance testing regime that will apply to all carriers — large and small, wireline and wireless — receiving high-cost support from a variety of mechanisms is likely to impose proportionally greater costs and implementation difficulties upon the small carriers that depend the most upon high-cost support.

The full notice of ex parte can be found here.