§  0.91   Functions of the Bureau.

   Link to an amendment published at  86 FR 48520 , Aug. 31, 2021.

   The Wireline Competition Bureau advises and makes recommendations to
   the Commission, or acts for the Commission under delegated authority,
   in all matters pertaining to the regulation and licensing of
   communications common carriers and ancillary operations (other than
   matters pertaining exclusively to the regulation and licensing of
   wireless telecommunications services and facilities). The Bureau will,
   among other things:

   (a) Develop and recommend policy goals, objectives, programs and plans
   for the Commission in rulemaking and adjudicatory matters concerning
   wireline telecommunications, drawing on relevant economic,
   technological, legislative, regulatory and judicial information and
   developments. Overall objectives include meeting the present and future
   wireline telecommunications needs of the Nation; fostering economic
   growth; ensuring choice, opportunity, and fairness in the development
   of wireline telecommunications; promoting economically efficient
   investment in wireline telecommunications infrastructure; promoting the
   development and widespread availability of wireline telecommunications
   services; and developing deregulatory initiatives where appropriate.

   (b) Act on requests for interpretation or waiver of rules.

   (c) Administer the provisions of the Communications Act requiring that
   the charges, practices, classifications, and regulations of
   communications common carriers providing interstate and foreign
   services are just and reasonable.

   (d) Act on applications for service and facility authorizations,
   including applications from Bell operating companies for authority to
   provide in-region interLATA services and applications from wireline
   carriers for transfers of licenses and discontinuance of service.

   (e) Develop and administer rules and policies relating to incumbent
   local exchange carrier accounting.

   (f) Develop and administer recordkeeping and reporting requirements for
   telecommunications carriers, providers of interconnected VoIP service
   (as that term is defined in § 9.3 of this chapter), and providers of
   broadband services.

   (g) Provide federal staff support for the Federal-State Joint Board on
   Universal Service and the Federal-State Joint Board on Jurisdictional
   Separations.

   (h) Review the deployment of advanced telecommunications capability to
   ensure that such deployment is reasonable and timely, consistent with
   section 706 of the Act, and, where appropriate, recommend action to
   encourage such deployment.

   (i) Provide economic, financial, and technical analyses of
   telecommunications markets and carrier performance.

   (j) Act on petitions for de novo review of decisions of the
   Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments regarding technical
   criteria pursuant to § 68.614.

   (k) Interact with the public, local, state, and other governmental
   agencies and industry groups on wireline telecommunications regulation
   and related matters. Assist the Consumer and Governmental Affairs
   Bureau on issues involving informal consumer complaints and other
   general inquiries by consumers.

   (l) Review and coordinate orders, programs and actions initiated by
   other Bureaus and Offices in matters affecting wireline
   telecommunications to ensure consistency with overall Commission
   policy.

   (m) Carry out the functions of the Commission under the Communications
   Act of 1934, as amended, except as reserved to the Commission under
   § 0.291.

   (n) Address audit findings relating to the schools and libraries
   support mechanism, subject to the overall authority of the Managing
   Director as the Commission's audit follow-up official.

   (o) Coordinate with the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau on
   all matters affecting public safety, homeland security, national
   security, emergency management, disaster management, and related
   issues.

   (p) In coordination with the Office of Economics and Analytics and
   Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, serves as the Commission's
   principal policy and administrative staff resource with respect to the
   use of market-based mechanisms, including competitive bidding, to
   distribute universal service support. Develops, recommends and
   administers policies, programs, rules and procedures concerning the use
   of market-based mechanisms, including competitive bidding, to
   distribute universal service support.

   (q) Issue orders revoking a common carrier's operating authority
   pursuant to section 214 of the Act, and issue orders to cease and
   desist such operations, in cases where the presiding officer has issued
   a certification order to the Commission that the carrier has waived its
   opportunity for hearing under that section.

   [ 67 FR 13218 , Mar. 21, 2002, as amended at  68 FR 13850 , Mar. 21, 2003;
    69 FR 55109 , Sept. 13, 2004;  71 FR 69034 , Nov. 29, 2006;  76 FR 73851 ,
   Nov. 29, 2011;  78 FR 49148 , Aug. 13, 2013;  83 FR 63076 , Dec. 7, 2018;
    85 FR 63171 , Oct. 6, 2020;  86 FR 12546 , Mar. 4, 2021]

   

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