INCOMPAS NEWS -- January 3, 2017

The annual INCOMPAS Policy Summit is bringing together industry leaders and key policymakers from the FCC and Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., for a dialogue on policies that will continue to promote growth, innovation and competition in the communications technology economy.

The Summit kicks off on February 15 at the Newseum with a robust agenda featuring speakers from companies like Windstream Communications, Google Fiber, Twitter, Microsoft, Verizon and Dish Network; as well as organizations such as Free Press, Public Knowledge and Tech Freedom. Sessions include:

Then, on February 16, INCOMPAS members will participate in meetings with legislative leaders.

If you are planning to attend The INCOMPAS Show in New Orleans this Spring, now is the time to take advantage of special early bird registration rates. Save on full conference passes by registering today!

The INCOMPAS Show, taking place April 3-5 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, offers competitive communications professionals a great way to expand their networks and seal valuable business deals in a single location. With daily networking opportunities, a comprehensive and relevant education program and the Buyers Forum, The INCOMPAS Show is THE event you should not miss.

Visit The INCOMPAS Show website for more information or to register.

INCOMPAS CEO to Moderate Global Network Panel at PTC '17

INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering will moderate a panel on "The Global Network Challenge: How to Build and Connect the Networks of the Future" at PTC '17. The conference is the Asia-Pacific region's premier telecommunications event, taking place in Honolulu, Hawaii, January 15-17.

Joining Pickering on the panel is Dan Davis, vice president of Strategy & Corporate Business Development at CenturyLink; Don MacNeil, CTO of EdgeconneX; and Robert Pepper, head of Global Connectivity Policy and Planning for Facebook. The panel will take place Tuesday, January 17 at 11 a.m.

Small Business Exemption from Open Internet Transparency Requirements Expire

On December 15, the exemption for enhanced disclosures for BIAS providers with 100,000 or fewer broadband subscribers expired. This temporary exemption was part of the 2015 Open Internet Order, in which the FCC established a series of enhanced transparency requirements for BIAS providers, compelling these providers to publicly disclose additional information regarding the network management practices, performance characteristics, and commercial terms of their broadband Internet access services.

The small business exemption expired after FCC commissioners were unable to come to an agreement that would have extended the exemption or make the exemption permanent. The new requirements will be enforceable as of January 17, 2017.

INCOMPAS Files Replies on AT&T Forbearance Petition

On December 19, INCOMPAS filed reply comments in response to AT&T's petition for forbearance from certain tariffing rules. INCOMPAS noted that, if granted, forbearance has the potential to harm competition in the competitive tandem switching and tandem-switched transport marketplace. The association added that "AT&T's petition is overly broad and raises numerous competitive and procedural concerns."