FASTNET Act

Summary: Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in adopting rules that apply to incumbent local exchange carriers, to adopt separate and less burdensome rules and requirements for two percent carriers which take into account the more limited resources available to such carriers and the greater burden such rules impose on such carriers and their customers. Authorizes a two percent carrier to seek a waiver or reconsideration of an adopted rule which does not impose less burdensome rules and requirements upon such carriers.
Prohibits the FCC from requiring a two percent carrier to file cost allocation manuals or Automated Reporting and Management Information Systems.
Prohibits the FCC from adopting or enforcing any regulation which impairs the ability of a two percent carrier to integrate its operations in one or more entities, at its discretion.
States that the participation or withdrawal from participation by a two percent carrier of one or more study areas in the common line tariff administered and filed by the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) or any successor tariff or administrator shall not obligate such carrier to participate or withdraw from participation in such tariff for any other study area. Authorizes a two percent carrier to elect to be regulated by the FCC under price cap regulation, or to withdraw from such regulation, for one or more of its study areas at any time.
Prohibits the FCC from reviewing any mergers or acquisitions between two percent carriers or their affiliates.
Permits two percent carriers to introduce new telecommunications services by filing a tariff on one day's notice, without making any other showing before the FCC in advance of such filing.
Allows any two percent carrier to de-average its interstate switched or special rates and file contract-based tariffs for interstate switched or special access services immediately upon certifying to the FCC that an unaffiliated carrier has engaged in facilities- or resale-based entry within such carrier's service area. Prohibits the FCC from regulating the rates charged by a two percent carrier after such certification. Allows such a carrier to participate in the common line tariff administered and filed by the NECA or any successor tariff or administrator by electing to include one or more of its study areas in such tariff.
Requires the FCC to determine: (1) within 45 days after application that the public interest, convenience, and necessity will be served by a merger or acquisition between two percent carriers; and (2) within 90 days a petition by a two percent carrier for reconsideration or waiver of a rule, policy, or other FCC requirement (as authorized under this Act).

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Facilitating Access to Speedy 
Transmissions for Networks, E-commerce, and Telecommunications Act'' or 
the ``FASTNET Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was enacted to 
        foster the rapid deployment of advanced telecommunications and 
        information technologies and services to all Americans by 
        promoting competition and reducing regulation in 
        telecommunications markets nationwide.
            (2) The Telecommunications Act of 1996 specifically 
        recognized the unique abilities and circumstances of local 
        exchange carriers with fewer than two percent of the Nation's 
        subscriber lines installed in the aggregate nationwide.
            (3) Given the markets two percent carriers typically serve, 
        such carriers are uniquely positioned to accelerate the 
        deployment of advanced services and competitive initiatives for 
        the benefit of consumers in less densely populated regions of 
        the Nation.
            (4) Existing regulations are typically tailored to the 
        circumstances of larger carriers and therefore often impose 
        disproportionate burdens on two percent carriers, impeding such 
        carriers' deployment of advanced telecommunications services 
        and competitive initiatives to consumers in less densely 
        populated regions of the Nation.
            (5) Reducing regulatory burdens on two percent carriers 
        will enable such carriers to devote additional resources to the 
        deployment of advanced services and to competitive initiatives 
        to benefit consumers in less densely populated regions of the 
        Nation.
            (6) Reducing regulatory burdens on two percent carriers 
        will increase such carriers' ability to respond to marketplace 
        conditions, allowing them to accelerate deployment of advanced 
        services and competitive initiatives to benefit consumers in 
        less densely populated regions of the Nation.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to accelerate the deployment of advanced services and 
        the development of competition in the telecommunications 
        industry for the benefit of consumers in all regions of the 
        Nation, consistent with the Telecommunications Act of 1996, by 
        reducing regulatory burdens on local exchange carriers with 
        fewer than two percent of the Nation's subscriber lines 
        installed in the aggregate nationwide;
            (2) to improve such carriers' flexibility to undertake such 
        initiatives; and
            (3) to allow such carriers to redirect resources from 
        paying the costs of such regulatory burdens to increasing 
        investment in such initiatives.

SEC. 3. DEFINITION.

    Section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153) is 
amended by adding at the end thereof the following:
            ``(53) Two percent carrier.--The term `two percent carrier' 
        means a local exchange carrier with fewer than two percent of 
        the Nation's subscriber lines installed in the aggregate 
        nationwide, within the meaning of section 251(f)(2) and that 
        meets the requirements of section 251(h).''.

SEC. 4. REGULATORY RELIEF FOR TWO PERCENT CARRIERS.

    Title II of the Communications Act of 1934 is amended by adding at 
the end thereof a new Part IV as follows:

         ``PART IV--PROVISIONS CONCERNING TWO PERCENT CARRIERS

``SEC. 281. REDUCED REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR TWO PERCENT CARRIERS.

    ``(a) Commission To Take Into Account Differences.--In adopting 
rules that apply to incumbent local exchange carriers, the Commission 
shall adopt separate and less burdensome regulatory, compliance, or 
reporting requirements, or exemptions from such requirements, or both, 
for two percent carriers that take into account the more limited 
resources available to such carriers and the greater burden such rules 
impose on such carriers and their customers.
    ``(b) Effect of Reconsideration or Waiver.--If the Commission 
adopts a rule that applies to incumbent local exchange carriers and 
does not adopt such separate and less burdensome regulatory, 
compliance, or reporting requirements, or exemptions from such 
requirements, for two percent carriers and if a two percent carrier or 
carriers seek a waiver or reconsideration of the rule as adopted in 
accordance with the Commission's rules, the Commission shall not 
enforce the rule against such carrier or carriers unless and until the 
Commission adopts separate and less burdensome requirements or 
exemptions in accordance with subsection (a).
    ``(c) Additional Regulation Not Required.--Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to require the Commission to adopt regulatory, 
compliance, or reporting requirements of any kind for two percent 
carriers where none currently exist. Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to require any additional regulation to be imposed on 
commercial mobile radio service.
    ``(d) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section shall be construed 
to prohibit any size-based differentiation among carriers mandated by 
this Act, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the Commission's rules, or 
any other provision of law.
    ``(e) Effective Date.--The provisions of this section shall apply 
with respect to any rule adopted on or after the date of enactment of 
this section.

``SEC. 282. LIMITATION OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    ``The Commission shall not require a two percent carrier--
            ``(1) to file cost allocation manuals or to have audited or 
        attested such manuals; or
            ``(2) to file Automated Reporting and Management 
        Information Systems (ARMIS).

``SEC. 283. INTEGRATED OPERATION OF TWO PERCENT CARRIERS.

    ``The Commission shall not adopt or enforce any regulation the 
purpose or effect of which is to impair the ability of a two percent 
carrier to integrate its operations in one or more entities, at its 
discretion. Such operations may include the provision of common carrier 
and noncommon carrier services, including local and interexchange 
services, commercial mobile radio services, advanced services within 
the meaning of section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, 
paging, Internet, information or other enhanced services, or other 
services. The Commission shall not require companies to which this 
paragraph applies to maintain separate officers, directors, or other 
personnel, network facilities, buildings, research and development 
departments, books of account, financing, marketing, provisioning, or 
other operations.

``SEC. 284. PARTICIPATION IN TARIFF POOLS AND PRICE CAP REGULATION.

    ``(a) NECA Pool.--The participation or withdrawal from 
participation by a two percent carrier of one or more study areas in 
the common line tariff administered and filed by the National Exchange 
Carrier Association or any successor tariff or administrator shall not 
obligate such carrier to participate or withdraw from participation in 
such tariff for any other study area.
    ``(b) Price Cap Regulation.--A two percent carrier may elect to be 
regulated by the Commission under price cap rate regulation, or elect 
to withdraw from such regulation, for one or more of its study areas at 
any time. The Commission shall not require a carrier making an election 
under this paragraph with respect to any study area or areas to make 
the same election for any other study area.

``SEC. 285. REVIEW OF MERGERS.

    ``Except as required by section 310(f), the Commission shall have 
no authority to approve, disapprove, delay, condition, or modify the 
terms of any merger between two percent carriers or their affiliates, 
or any acquisition, directly or indirectly, by a two percent carrier or 
its affiliate of the securities or assets of another two percent 
carrier or its affiliate, if after the merger, the resulting entry 
would still be a two percent carrier.

``SEC. 286. DEPLOYMENT OF NEW TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES BY TWO 
              PERCENT COMPANIES.

    ``Two percent carriers shall be permitted to introduce new 
interstate telecommunications services by filing a tariff on one day's 
notice showing the charges, classifications, regulations and practices 
therefor, without obtaining a waiver, or make any other showing before 
the Commission in advance of the tariff filing. The Commission shall 
not have authority to approve or disapprove the rate structure for such 
services shown in such tariff.

``SEC. 287. ENTRY OF COMPETING CARRIER.

    ``(a) Pricing Flexibility.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
this Act, any two percent carrier shall be permitted to deaverage its 
interstate switched or special access rates, file tariffs on one day's 
notice and file contract-based tariffs for interstate switched or 
special access services immediately upon certifying to the Commission 
that a telecommunications carrier unaffiliated with such carrier has 
engaged in facilities-based entry or resale-based entry within such 
carrier's service area.
    ``(b) Pricing Deregulation.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
this Act, the Commission shall have no authority to regulate the rates 
for interstate services provided by a two percent carrier immediately 
upon certifying to the Commission by such carrier that a local exchange 
carrier that is not a two percent carrier has engaged in facilities-
based entry within such two percent carrier's service area.
    ``(c) Participation in Exchange Carrier Association Tariff.--A two 
percent carrier that meets the requirements of subsection (a) or (b) of 
this section with respect to one or more study areas shall be permitted 
to participate in the common line tariff administered and filed by the 
National Exchange Carrier Association or any successor tariff or 
administrator, by electing to include one or more of its study areas in 
such tariff.
    ``(d) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
            ``(1) Facilities-based entry.--The term `facilities-based 
        entry' means, within the service area of a two percent 
        carrier--
                    ``(A) the provision or procurement of local 
                telephone exchange switching capability; and
                    ``(B) the provision of local exchange service to at 
                least one unaffiliated customer.
            ``(2) Resale-based entry.--The term `resale-based entry' 
        means, within the service area of a two percent carrier, the 
        provision of telecommunications service using resale offered 
        under section 251(c).
            ``(3) Contract-based tariff.--The term `contract-based 
        tariff' shall mean a tariff based on a service contract entered 
        into between a two percent carrier and one or more customers of 
        such carrier. Such tariff shall include--
                    ``(A) the term of the contract, including any 
                renewal options;
                    ``(B) a brief description of each of the services 
                provided under the contract;
                    ``(C) minimum volume commitments for each service, 
                if any;
                    ``(D) the contract price for each service or 
                services at the volume levels committed to by the 
                customer or customers;
                    ``(E) a brief description of any volume discounts 
                built into the contract rate structure; and
                    ``(F) a general description of any other 
                classifications, practices, and regulations affecting 
                the contract rate.
            ``(4) Service area.--The term `service area' has the same 
        meaning as in section 214(e)(5).

``SEC. 288. SAVINGS PROVISION.

    ``Nothing in this part shall be construed to diminish the rights of 
rural telephone companies otherwise accorded by this Act, or the rules, 
policies, procedures, guidelines, and standards of the Commission as of 
the date of enactment of this section.''.

SEC. 5. LIMITATION ON MERGER REVIEW.

    (a) Amendment.--Section 310 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 310) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Deadline for Making Public Interest Determination.--
            ``(1) Time limit.--In connection with any merger between 
        two percent carriers, or the acquisition, directly or 
        indirectly, by a two percent carrier or its affiliate of the 
        securities or assets of another two percent carrier or its 
        affiliate, the Commission shall make the determination required 
        by subsection (d) of this section not later than 45 days after 
        the date the application is submitted to the Commission.
            ``(2) Approval absent action.--If the Commission does not 
        approve or deny an application as described in paragraph (1) by 
        the end of the period specified, the application shall be 
        deemed approved on the day after the end of such period. Any 
        such application deemed approved under this subsection shall be 
        deemed approved without conditions.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The provisions of this section shall apply 
with respect to any application that is submitted to the Commission on 
or after the date of enactment of this Act. Applications pending with 
the Commission on the date of enactment of this Act shall be subject to 
the requirements of this section as if they had been filed with the 
Commission on the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 6. TIME LIMITS FOR ACTION ON PETITIONS FOR RECONSIDERATION OR 
              WAIVER.

    (a) Amendment.--Section 405 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 405) is amended by adding to the end the following:
    ``(c) Expedited Action Required.--
            ``(1) Time limit.--Within 90 days after receiving from a 
        two percent carrier a petition for reconsideration filed under 
        this section or a petition for waiver of a rule, policy, or 
        other Commission requirement, the Commission shall issue an 
        order granting or denying such petition. If the Commission 
        fails to act on a petition for waiver subject to the 
        requirements of this section within this 90-day period, the 
        relief sought in such petition shall be deemed granted. If the 
        Commission fails to act on a petition for reconsideration 
        subject to the requirements of this section within this 90 day 
        period, the Commission's enforcement of any rule the 
        reconsideration of which was specifically sought by the 
        petitioning party shall be stayed with respect to that party 
        until the Commission issues an order granting or denying such 
        petition.
            ``(2) Finality of action.--Any order issued under paragraph 
        (1), or any grant of a petition for waiver that is deemed to 
        occur as a result of the Commission's failure to act under 
        paragraph (1), shall be a final order and may be appealed.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The provisions of this section shall apply 
with respect to any petition for reconsideration or petition for waiver 
that is submitted to the Commission on or after the date of enactment 
of this Act. Pending petitions for reconsideration or petitions for 
waiver shall be subject to the requirements of this section as if they 
had been filed on the date of enactment of this Act.