Biennial Review of International Common Carrier Regulations

On March 18, 1999, the Federal Communications Commission adopted a Report and Order (Order) to further streamline the rules governing international common carriers. The new rules will benefit U.S. consumers because they will eliminate unnecessary regulatory delay and will facilitate entrance into the international telecommunications market. The Commission believes that the new rules will lessen the regulatory burdens on applicants, authorized carriers, and the Commission by allowing carriers to operate more efficiently. The Commission initiated this proceeding pursuant to section 11 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which directs the Commission to undertake a review every even-numbered year of all regulations that apply to providers of telecommunications services to determine whether any such regulation is no longer necessary.