REMINDER: The annual Certification of CPNI Compliance for 2008 is due March 1, 2009; but should be filed no later than February 27, 2009.

In 2007, the FCC revised the CPNI rules that originated in the Telecom Act of 1996. The revised CPNI rules contain a provision requiring all telecommunications carriers to file an annual Certification of CPNI Compliance. The annual certification for 2008 is due March 1, 2009. This year, March 1 falls on a Sunday, and FCC rules normally would roll such a deadline over to the next business day; however, in light of an FCC Public Notice, this does not appear to be the case for the CPNI certification deadline. Clients should therefore complete their filing by Friday, February 27.

The CPNI filing requirement applies to all "telecommunication carriers", including ILECs, CLECs, wireless carriers, paging companies, resellers and other service providers. The certification should be submitted for subsidiaries or affiliates, especially if they file a Form 499A Universal Service Report.

Martin Group’s CPNI Regulatory Training is available on CD. The training CD can be used as a refresher tool for annual training of staff or for new employees. The CPNI Regulatory Training is designed for the company officer responsible for ensuring compliance with CPNI rules, marketing personnel, and company personnel who interact with customers and/or customer account information. Learn about existing and new CPNI rules, identify CPNI responsibilities, distinguish what is CPNI and what is not, and gather suggestions on how to apply these rules within the company.

Martin Group also has a CPNI Manual should your company need assistance developing policies and procedures to comply with the CPNI rules. The manual includes sample forms, Annual CPNI Certification, and the FCC rules associated with CPNI.

For more information, please contact Rena Hoffman at 605.996.9646 or via email at renahoffman@martin-group.com.