Rural Call Completion Workshop

On Sept. 26, the FCC announced [1] the creation of the Rural Call Completion Task Force to investigate and address the growing problem of calls to rural customers that are being delayed or that fail to connect. The Release noted that the Task Force would hold a workshop on October 18 to identify specific causes of the problem and to discuss potential solutions with key stakeholders. The Agenda for the workshop follows.

9:15 am Opening Remarks

9:30 – 10:30 am Panel One: Rural Call Completion Problems - Causes and Effects

Moderator:

Jeff Goldthorp, Associate Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security

Discussion Topics:

Analysis of symptoms and scope of problem based upon data collected
Effects on customers
Possible causes, including roles of least-cost routing, wireless call quality,
IP-based technology interoperability, and incidence of intentional call blocking

Panelists:

Robert Gnapp, NECA
Fritz Hendricks, Onvoy Voice Services
Denny Law, Golden West Telecommunications
Dave Lewis, ANPI / Zone Telecom
Kim Meola, AT&T Services, Inc.
Dale Merten, Toledo Telephone
Tami Spocogee, PAETEC

10:30 – 10:45 am Question and Answer Session with Panel

10:45 – 11:00 am Break

11:00 – 12:00 pm Panel Two: How Can Rural Call Completion Problems be Addressed

Moderator:

Deena Shetler, Associate Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau, FCC

Discussion Topics:

Facilitating information sharing among carriers
Least cost routing contracts requirements
Industry-consensus solutions including best practices, interoperability and performance profiles, and new technical standards
Possible regulatory solution

Panelists:

Scott Booth, Verizon
Jill Canfield, NTCA
Martin Corso, TDS Telecommunications Corp.
Penn Pfautz, AT&T Services, Inc.
Rick Ratliff, Sprint

12:00 – 12:15 pm Question and Answer Session with Panel

Related Materials

Links:
[1] http://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-launches-rural-call-completion-task-force-sets-oct-18-workshop
[2] mailto:RuralCall@fcc.gov
[3] http://fcc.gov/live
[4] http://www.fcc.gov/events/past
[5] mailto:fcc504@fcc.gov
[6] mailto:myrva.charles@fcc.gov
[7] http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2013/db0418/DA-13-780A1.pdf
[8] http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-13-18A1.pdf
[9] http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db0207/DA-12-154A1.pdf
[10] http://www.fcc.gov/blog/new-year-solutions-rural-call-completion-problems
[11] http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-310506A1.pdf
[12] http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-310507A1.pdf
[13] http://www.fcc.gov/document/agenda-october-18-rural-call-completion-workshop