WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission late Thursday announced it would hold off until June 8 an anticipated decision on a request by the Personal Communications Industry Association that certain rules, including resale obligations, not be enforced because they are no longer necessary in a competitive environment. The FCC was expected to rule on the PCIA forbearance petition on Friday.
Congress established procedures in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that allow entities to ask the FCC to “forebear” from enforcing rules that have become moot due to competition. The procedures require the FCC to rule on such requests within one year but gives the agency the option of a 90-day extension if necessary. PCIA filed its petition May 22, 1997.
The FCC partially agreed with PCIA in February when it said, “The record established sufficient justification to forbear from enforcing the requirements as they apply to pro forma assignments of licenses and transfers of control of all wireless telecommunications licensees, and that such forbearance enhances competition and serves the public interest,” the FCC said last week.
