FCC Regulation Document

Part: 
Topic: C

47 CFR Part 43 (up to date as of 2/20/2024)
                                                                                               47 CFR Part 43 (Feb. 20, 2024)
Reports of Communication Common Carriers, Providers of International...

This content is from the eCFR and is authoritative but unofficial.

Title 47 —Telecommunication
Chapter I —Federal Communications Commission
Subchapter B —Common Carrier Services

Part 43 Reports of Communication Common Carriers, Providers of International
        Services and Certain Affiliates
  § 43.01 Applicability.
  § 43.21 Transactions with affiliates.
  § 43.41 [Reserved]
  § 43.43 Reports of proposed changes in depreciation rates.
  § 43.51 Contracts and concessions.
  § 43.62 [Reserved]
  § 43.72 [Reserved]
  § 43.82 Circuit capacity reports.

PART 43—REPORTS OF COMMUNICATION COMMON CARRIERS,
PROVIDERS OF INTERNATIONAL SERVICES AND CERTAIN
AFFILIATES
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 35–39, 154, 211, 219, 220; sec. 402(b)(2)(B), (c), Pub. L. 104–104, 110 Stat. 129.

Source: 28 FR 13214, Dec. 5, 1963, unless otherwise noted.

§ 43.01 Applicability.
      (a) The sections in this part include requirements which have been promulgated under authority of sections
          211 and 219 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, with respect to the filing by
          communication common carriers and certain of their affiliates of periodic reports and certain other data,
          but do not include certain requirements relating to the filing of information with respect to specific
          services, accounting systems and other matters incorporated in other parts of this chapter.

      (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, carriers becoming subject to the provisions of the
          several sections of this part for the first time, shall, within thirty (30) days of becoming subject, file the
          required data as set forth in the various sections of this part.

      (c) Carriers becoming subject to the provisions of §§ 43.21 and 43.43 for the first time, because their annual
          operating revenues equal or exceed the indexed revenue threshold for a given year, shall begin collecting
          data pursuant to such provisions in the calendar year following the publication of that indexed revenue
          threshold in the FEDERAL REGISTER. With respect to such initial filing of reports by any carrier, pursuant to

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                                                                                                                  47 CFR 43.21
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           the provisions of § 43.21 (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), and (k), the carrier is to begin filing data for the
           calendar year following the publication of that indexed revenue threshold in the FEDERAL REGISTER by April
           1 of the second calendar year following publication of that indexed revenue threshold in the FEDERAL
           REGISTER.

[28 FR 13214, Dec. 5, 1963, as amended at 62 FR 39778, July 24, 1997; 65 FR 19685, Apr. 12, 2000; 78 FR 49149, Aug. 13, 2013;
85 FR 838, Jan. 8, 2020]

§ 43.21 Transactions with affiliates.
     (a) Communication common carriers having annual operating revenues in excess of the indexed revenue
         threshold, as defined in § 32.9000, and certain companies (as indicated in paragraph (b) of this section)
         directly or indirectly controlling such carriers shall file with the Commission annual reports or an annual
         letter as provided in this section. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, each annual report
         required by this section shall be filed no later than April 1 of each year, covering the preceding calendar
         year. It shall be filed on the appropriate report form prescribed by the Commission (see § 1.785 of this
         chapter) and shall contain full and specific answers to all questions propounded and information
         requested in the currently effective report forms. The number of copies to be filed shall be specified in the
         applicable report form. At least one copy of this report shall be signed on the signature page by the
         responsible accounting officer. A copy of each annual report shall be as retained in the principal office of
         the respondent and shall be filed in such manner to be readily available for reference and inspection.

     (b) Each company, not itself a communication common carrier, that directly or indirectly controls any
         communication common carrier that has annual operating revenues equal to or above the indexed
         revenue threshold, as defined in § 32.9000, shall file annually with the Commission, not later than the date
         prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission for its purposes, two complete copies of any
         annual report Forms 10–K (or any superseding form) filed with that Commission.

     (c) Each miscellaneous common carrier (as defined by § 21.2 of this chapter) with operating revenues for a
         calendar year in excess of the indexed revenue threshold, as defined in § 32.9000, shall file with the
         Common Carrier Bureau Chief a letter showing its operating revenues for that year and the value of its
         total communications plant at the end of that year. This letter must be filed no later than April 1 of the
         following year. Those miscellaneous common carriers with annual operating revenues that equal or
         surpass the indexed revenue threshold for the first time may file the letter up to one month after
         publication of the adjusted revenue threshold in the FEDERAL REGISTER, but in no event shall such carriers
         be required to file the letter prior to April 1.

     (d) Each communications common carrier required by order to file a manual allocating its costs between
         regulated and nonregulated operations shall file, on or before April 1:

           (1) A three-year forecast of regulated and nonregulated use of network plant for the current calendar
               year and the two calendar years following, and investment pool projections and allocations for the
               current calendar year; and

           (2) A report of the actual use of network plant investment for the prior calendar year.

     (e) Each incumbent local exchange carrier, except mid-sized incumbent local exchange carriers, as defined by
         § 32.9000 with annual operating revenues equal to or above the indexed revenue threshold shall file, no
         later than April 1 of each year:

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           (1) Its revenues, expenses and investment for all accounts established in part 32 of this chapter, on an
               operating company basis,

           (2) The same part 32 of this chapter, on a study area basis, with data for regulated and nonregulated
               operations for those accounts which are related to the carrier's revenue requirement, and

           (3) The separations categories on a study area basis, with each category further divided into access
               elements and a nonaccess interstate category.

     (f) Each incumbent local exchange carrier with operating revenues for the preceding year that equal or
         exceed the indexed revenue threshold shall file, no later than April 1 of each year, a report showing for the
         previous calendar year its revenues, expenses, taxes, plant in service, other investment and depreciation
         reserves, and other such data as are required by the Commission, on computer media prescribed by the
         Commission. The total operating results shall be allocated between regulated and nonregulated
         operations, and the regulated data shall be further divided into the following categories: State and
         interstate, and the interstate will be further divided into common line, traffic sensitive access, special
         access, and nonaccess.

     (g) Each incumbent local exchange carrier for whom price cap regulation is mandatory and every incumbent
         local exchange carrier that elects to be covered by the price cap rules shall file, by April 1 of each year, a
         report designed to capture trends in service quality under price cap regulation. The report shall contain
         data relative to network measures of service quality, as defined by the Wireline Competition Bureau, from
         the previous calendar year on a study area basis.

     (h) Each incumbent local exchange carrier for whom price cap regulation is mandatory shall file, by April 1 of
         each year, a report designed to capture trends in service quality under price cap regulation. The report
         shall contain data relative to customer measures of service quality, as defined by the Wireline Competition
         Bureau, from the previous calendar year a study area basis.

     (i)   Each incumbent local exchange carrier for whom price regulation is mandatory shall file, by April 1 of each
           year, a report containing data from the previous calendar year on a study area basis that are designed to
           capture trends in telephone industry infrastructure development under price cap regulation.

     (j)   Each incumbent local exchange carrier with annual operating revenues that equal or exceed the indexed
           revenue threshold shall file, no later than April 1 of each year, a report containing data from the previous
           calendar year on an operating company basis. Such report shall combine statistical data designed to
           monitor network growth, usage, and reliability.

     (k) Each designated interstate carrier with operating revenues for the preceding year that equal or exceed the
         indexed revenue threshold shall file, no later than April 1 of each year, a report showing for the previous
         calendar year its revenues, expenses, taxes, plant in service, other investments and depreciation reserves,
         and such other data as are required by the Commission, on computer media prescribed by the
         Commission. The total operating results shall be allocated between regulated and nonregulated
         operations, and the regulated data shall be further divided into the following categories: State and
         interstate, and the interstate will be further divided into common line, traffic sensitive access, special
         access, and nonaccess.

[28 FR 13214, Dec. 5, 1963, as amended at 49 FR 10122, Mar. 19, 1984; 50 FR 41153, Oct. 9, 1985; 51 FR 37024, Oct. 17, 1986; 52
FR 35918, Sept. 24, 1987; 58 FR 36143, July 6, 1993; 61 FR 50245, Sept. 25, 1996; 62 FR 39778, July 24, 1997; 67 FR 5700, Feb. 6,
2002; 67 FR 13225, Mar. 21, 2002]

§ 43.41 [Reserved]
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                                                                                                           47 CFR 43.43
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§ 43.43 Reports of proposed changes in depreciation rates.
     (a) Each communication common carrier with annual operating expenses that equal or exceed the indexed
         revenue threshold, as defined in § 32.9000, and that has been found by this Commission to be a dominant
         carrier with respect to any communications service shall, before making any changes in the depreciation
         rates applicable to its operated plant, file with the Commission a report furnishing the data described in
         the subsequent paragraphs of this section, and also comply with the other requirements thereof.

     (b) Each such report shall contain the following:

          (1) A schedule showing for each class and subclass of plant (whether or not the depreciation rate is
              proposed to be changed) an appropriate designation therefor, the depreciation rate currently in
              effect, the proposed rate, and the service-life and net-salvage estimates underlying both the current
              and proposed depreciation rates;

          (2) An additional schedule showing for each class and subclass, as well as the totals for all depreciable
              plant,

                (i)   the book cost of plant at the most recent date available,

                (ii) the estimated amount of depreciation accruals determined by applying the currently effective
                     rate to the amount of such book cost,

                (iii) the estimated amount of depreciation accruals determined by applying the rate proposed to be
                      used to the amount of such book cost, and

                (iv) the difference between the amounts determined in paragraphs (b)(2) (ii) and (iii) of this section;

          (3) A statement giving the reasons for the proposed change in each rate;

          (4) A statement describing the method or methods employed in the development of the service-life and
              salvage estimates underlying each proposed change in a depreciation rate; and

          (5) The date as of which the revised rates are proposed to be made effective in the accounts.

     (c) Except as specified in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(3) of this section, when the change in the depreciation
         rate proposed for any class or subclass of plant (other than one occasioned solely by a shift in the relative
         investment in the several subclasses of the class of plant) amounts to twenty percent (20%) or more of
         the rate currently applied thereto, or when the proposed change will produce an increase or decrease of
         one percent (1%) or more of the aggregate depreciation charges for all depreciable plant (based on the
         amounts determined in compliance with paragraph (b)(2) of this section) the carrier shall supplement the
         data required by paragraph (b) of this section) with copies of the underlying studies, including
         calculations and charts, developed by the carrier to support service-life and net-salvage estimates. If a
         carrier must submit data of a repetitive nature to comply with this requirement, the carrier need only
         submit a fully illustrative portion thereof.

          (1) A Local Exchange Carrier regulated under price caps, pursuant to §§ 61.41 through 61.49 of this
              chapter, is not required to submit the supplemental information described in paragraph (c)
              introductory text of this section for a specific account if: The carrier's currently prescribed
              depreciation rate for the specific accounts derived from basic factors that fall within the basic factor
              ranges established for that same account; and the carrier's proposed depreciation rate for the
              specific account would also be derived from basic factors that fall within the basic factor ranges for
              the same account.

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                                                                                                             47 CFR 43.43(c)(2)
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           (2) Local Exchange Carriers that are regulated under price caps, pursuant to §§ 61.41 through 61.49 of
               this chapter, and have selected basic factors that fall within the basic factor ranges for all accounts
               are exempt from paragraphs (b)(3), (b)(4), and (c) introductory text of this section. They shall instead
               comply with paragraphs (b)(1), (b)(2) and (b)(5) of this section and provide a book and theoretical
               reserve summary and a summary of basic factors underlying proposed rates by account.

           (3) Interexchange carriers regulated under price caps, pursuant to §§ 61.41 through 61.49 of this
               chapter, are exempted from submitting the supplemental information as described in paragraph (c)
               introductory text of this section. They shall instead submit: Generation data, a summary of basic
               factors underlying proposed depreciation rates by account and a short narrative supporting those
               basic factors, including company plans of forecasted retirements and additions, recent annual
               retirements, salvage and cost of removal.

     (d) Each report shall be filed in duplicate and the original shall be signed by the responsible official to whom
         correspondence related thereto should be addressed.

     (e) Unless otherwise directed or approved by the Commission, the following shall be observed: Proposed
         changes in depreciation rates shall be filed at least ninety (90) days prior to the last day of the month with
         respect to which the revised rates are first to be applied in the accounts (e.g., if the new rates are to be
         first applied in the depreciation accounts for September, they must be filed on or before July 1). Such
         rates may be made retroactive to a date not prior to the beginning of the year in which the filing is made:
         Provided however, that in no event shall a carrier for which the Commission has prescribed depreciation
         rates make any changes in such rates unless the changes are prescribed by the Commission. Carriers
         who select basic factors that fall within the basic factor ranges for all accounts are exempt from
         depreciation rate prescription by the Commission.

     (f) Any changes in depreciation rates that are made under the provisions of paragraph (e) of this section shall
         not be construed as having been approved by the Commission unless the carrier has been specifically so
         informed.

[28 FR 13214, Dec. 5, 1963, as amended at 30 FR 3223, Mar. 9, 1965; 53 FR 49987, Dec. 13, 1988; 58 FR 58790, Nov. 4, 1993; 61
FR 50246, Sept. 25, 1996; 62 FR 39779, July 24, 1997; 65 FR 18931, Apr. 10, 2000]

§ 43.51 Contracts and concessions.
     (a)

           (1) Any communication common carrier described in paragraph (b) of this section must file with the
               Commission, within thirty (30) days of execution, a copy of each contract, agreement, concession,
               license, authorization, operating agreement or other arrangement to which it is a party and
               amendments thereto (collectively hereinafter referred to as “agreement” for purposes of this rule)
               with respect to the following:

                 (i)   The exchange of services; and,

                (ii) The interchange or routing of traffic and matters concerning rates, accounting rates, division of
                     tolls, or the basis of settlement of traffic balances, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this
                     section.

           (2) If the contract, agreement, concession, license, authorization, operating agreement or other
               arrangement and amendments thereto is made other than in writing, a certified statement covering
               all details thereof must be filed by at least one of the parties to the agreement. Each other party to

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                                                                                                           47 CFR 43.51(b)
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                the agreement which is also subject to these provisions may, in lieu of also filing a copy of the
                agreement, file a certified statement referencing the filed document. The Commission may, at any
                time and upon reasonable request, require any communication common carrier not subject to the
                provisions of this section to submit the documents referenced in this section.

     (b) The following communication common carriers must comply with the requirements of paragraph (a) of
         this section:

           (1) A carrier that is engaged in domestic communications and has not been classified as non-dominant
               pursuant to § 61.3 of this Chapter; or

           (2) A carrier that is engaged in foreign communications and that has been classified as dominant for
               any service on any of the U.S.-international routes included in the contract, except for a carrier
               classified as dominant on a particular route due only to a foreign carrier affiliation under § 63.10 of
               this chapter.

     (c) With respect to contracts coming within the scope of paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section between subject
         telephone carriers and connecting carriers, except those contracts related to communications with
         foreign or overseas points, such documents shall not be filed with the Commission; but each subject
         telephone carrier shall maintain a copy of such contracts to which it is a party in appropriate files at a
         central location upon its premises, copies of which shall be readily accessible to Commission staff and
         members of the public upon reasonable request therefor; and upon request by the Commission, a subject
         telephone carrier shall promptly forward individual contracts to the Commission.

     (d) Any U.S. carrier, other than a provider of commercial mobile radio services, that is engaged in foreign
         communications, and enters into an agreement with a foreign carrier, is subject to the Commission's
         authority to require the U.S. carrier providing service on any U.S.-international routes to file, on an as-
         needed basis, a copy of each agreement to which it is a party.

           Note 1 to § 43.51: For purposes of this section, affiliated and foreign carrier are defined in § 63.09
           of this chapter.

           Note 2 to § 43.51: To the extent that a foreign government provides telecommunications services
           directly through a governmental organization, body or agency, it shall be treated as a foreign
           carrier for the purposes of this section.

[66 FR 16879, Mar. 28, 2001, as amended at 69 FR 23153, Apr. 28, 2004; 78 FR 11112, Feb. 15, 2013]

§ 43.62 [Reserved]
§ 43.72 [Reserved]
§ 43.82 Circuit capacity reports.
     (a) International submarine cable capacity. Not later than March 31 of each year:

47 CFR 43.82(a) (enhanced display)                                                                             page 6 of 7
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                                                                                                          47 CFR 43.82(a)(1)
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           (1) The licensee(s) of a submarine cable between the United States and any foreign point shall file a
               report showing the capacity of the submarine cable as of December 31 of the preceding calendar
               year. The licensee(s) shall also file a report showing the planned capacity of the submarine cable
               (the intended capacity of the submarine cable two years from December 31 of the preceding
               calendar year).

           (2) Each cable landing licensee and common carrier shall file a report showing its capacity on
               submarine cables between the United States and any foreign point as of December 31 of the
               preceding calendar year.

                 Note to paragraph (a): United States is defined in Section 3 of the Communications Act of
                 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 153.

     (b) Registration Form. A Registration Form, containing information about the filer, such as address, phone
         number, email address, etc., shall be filed with each report. The Registration Form shall include a
         certification enabling the filer to check a box to indicate that the filer requests that its circuit capacity data
         be treated as confidential consistent with Section 0.459(a)(4) of the Commission's rules.

     (c) Filing Manual. Authority is delegated to the Chief of the Office of International Affairs to prepare
         instructions and reporting requirements for the filing of these reports prepared and published as a Filing
         Manual. The information required under this Section shall be filed electronically in conformance with the
         instructions and reporting requirements in the Filing Manual.

[82 FR 55331, Nov. 21, 2017, as amended at 88 FR 21442, Apr. 10, 2023]

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