WASHINGTON-A debate is simmering at the Federal Communications Commission that could result in wireless carriers having to pay incumbent local exchange carriers significantly more to carry calls on the ILEC network.
Traditionally, wireless carriers paid ILECs one-quarter-cent in a bill-n-keep format to carry calls on the ILEC network. Under the changes proposed by the ILECs, the wireless industry could end up paying three to eight cents and receive nothing back for ILEC calls because the ILEC counts the calls as inter-exchange calls, said Brian O’Connor, vice president of legislative and regulatory affairs for VoiceStream Wireless Corp. “These changes are going to get real expensive for wireless carriers,” said O’Connor.
Sprint PCS has asked the FCC to prohibit this type of interconnection but to date the agency has not taken any action.
