Technologie i telekomunikacja · 23/10/1998

Prescription of Interstate Depreciation Rates

In this document, the Commission proposes to reduce or streamline further its depreciation prescription process by permitting summary filings and eliminating the prescription of depreciation rates for incumbent LECs, provided that the carrier uses depreciation factors that are within the ranges adopted by the Commission, expanding the prescribed range for the digital switching plant account, and eliminating salvage from the depreciation process. It also seeks comment on whether the Commission should permit carriers to set their own depreciation rates if they are willing to waive the automatic low- end adjustment. These proposed modifications are designed to minimize the reporting burden on carriers and to provide incumbent LECs with a greater flexibility to adjust their depreciation rates while allowing the Commission to maintain adequate oversight. This NPRM seeks comment on whether the current procedures for protecting confidential information, are adequate or whether additional safeguards need to be adopted to protect information that carriers regard as confidential. The Commission invites commenters to submit information on the costs and benefits of the rules at issue in this p