Countdown to No Martin

CLECs and other competitive providers rejoice: The Kevin Martin-run FCC will hold its very last meeting next week. That is, if Martin doesn’t cancel the meeting as he’s done the past two months.

The agenda so far includes two mundane items for a vote – one is DTV-related, the other considers pay raises for career senior execs at the FCC.

I’m surprised and not surprised that the lingering forbearance items due for a decision aren’t on the list. On the one hand, approving the requests would be Martin’s last chance to get in a dig at the competitive community; on the other, he hasn’t said yet that he’ll resign, so maybe he intends to buck convention and stick around as FCC chairman even though Barack Obama’s taking office. (Can he really do that? Policy experts, inform me.)

Anyway, the FeatureGroup IP request that VoIP be exempt from intercarrier compensation rules comes due Jan. 21. The current FCC could vote on the matter – which doesn’t appear likely – or deny it because it’s a key aspect of ongoing intercarrier compensation/Universal Service Fund reform efforts. Commissioners might not want to allow (nor should they) a Telecom Act loophole to dictate policy for them. If they don’t act, however, by midnight of Jan. 21, FeatureGroup IP’s request automatically will be granted.

So keep your eyes on forbearance activity at the FCC. And cross your fingers that this is the last we see of policymaker Kevin Martin.