by Brian Hurley, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, ACA Connects
UPDATE: On April 3, the FCC’s Media Bureau granted a six-month extension, to December 20, 2020, of the compliance deadline for the truth-in-billing requirements. Please see ACA Connects’ April 3 Member Advisory for more information.
As discussed in an ACA Connects Member Advisory, new truth-in-billing requirements for cable and broadband providers were enacted late last year. These new requirements will go into effect on June 20, 2020, unless the FCC extends the deadline, up to six months. A few weeks ago, the FCC asked whether it should grant the maximum, six-month extension (i.e., until December 20, 2020) for all providers. Of course, the answer is yes: ACA Connects members will need the extra time to work with their vendors to obtain upgrades to their billing systems, implement new procedures, train staff, and more.
The onset of the COVID-19 epidemic makes it even more critical that the FCC extend the deadline. Resources that would have been put to use implementing the truth-in-billing requirements are being redirected towards addressing COVID-19. Members need “all hands on deck” to keep their networks running, their employees and others safe, and their customers connected during this crisis.
In light of these extraordinary circumstances, ACA Connects joined two other industry associations – NCTA and USTelecom – in filing a joint letter with the FCC yesterday to request that it grant immediately a six-month extension of the truth-in-billing compliance deadline for all providers. The letter observes that “even under ordinary circumstances, the Commission has good cause to extend the effective date of the statute. Now, with the unprecedented marshaling of our members’ resources to keeping Americans connected during the pandemic, an extension is an absolute necessity.” Accordingly, ACA Connects and its fellow associations “urge the Commission to find good cause and act promptly to extend the effective date.”
We are optimistic the FCC will grant the extension promptly, and we will keep members posted.