Meeting Name/Subject: / Billing and Collection Agent Oversight Working Group (B&C WG)
Date: / Tuesday, April 26, 2016 / Time: / 10:00-11:00pm Eastern
Typeof Meeting/Location: / Conference Call
Meeting Attendees: / Company / Participant List/ Attendance in Bold
AT&T / Mark Lancaster
Century Link / Mary Retka, Phil Linse
Cox Communications / Beth O'Donnell
Sprint / Rosemary Emmer,Karen Riepenkroger, Heather Weiss
T-Mobile / Michele Thomas
Verizon Communications / Tim Decker
FCC / Ann Stevens, Gary Remondino
NANC / Chairman Betty Ann Kane
Welch LLP / Garth Steele, Heather Bambrough; Kim Nadeau, Mark Jackson
Author: / Rosemary Emmer
Agenda:
Open Portion:
- Approve April 5, 2016 meeting notes
- Co-chair read out of FCC meeting (Mary)
- March NANP Report (Welch)
- Preliminary Budget (Welch)
- April 5meeting notes approved.
- Rosemary to send final meeting notes to John Manning for posting to NANC Chair web site.
Deliverables Report
Distributing invoices
The monthly invoices for carriers were emailed on March 12th.
Processing Payments
Payment information from the lockbox service at Mellon Bank is downloaded on a daily basis. The deposit information is recorded daily.
Late/Absent Payments
Statement of accounts were emailed and mailed on March 1st to carriers with outstanding balances greater than $10.
FCC Red Light Notices
At a minimum, an updated red light report is posted to the FCC server for processing once a week. When required, additional updates are posted.
Helpdesk Queries
All queries are directed to a helpdesk voicemail inbox or email inbox. The information is transferred to an Access database. The date, nature of query, name of filer, Filer ID, who responded and on what date and the resolution is tracked. Queries are returned usually within 3 business days. Ten calls were received in March.
Most calls are questions about how to make changes to their email billing address, notification about closing their business, asking what the invoice was for or asking how to make a payment.
Staffing Changes
Nothing new since last month's report.
Contract Renewal
The contract expired October 1, 2009. Welch LLP is on the USGSA list. Welch LLP received an extension contract that runs until June 30, 2016.
Accounts Receivable
In March we received $691.20 from Treasury for debts collected.
Budget Timeline
Due to the change in the funding year, the anticipated timeline for the budget and billing for 2016 is
as follows:
- Preliminary budget and contribution factor presented to B&C Working Group - April 26 meeting
- Final budget and contribution factor presented to B&C Working Group - May 24 meeting
- Final budget and contribution factor presented to NANC - June 30 C meeting
- Final budget and contribution factor filed with FCC - July 5
- Invoices prepared and sent to carriers - September 12
- Payment due - October 12
Notes from the 4/12/16 Meeting between the B&C-WG Co-Chairs and the FCC’s Representatives:
Attendees:
Mary Retka - B&C WG
Rosemary Emmer – B&C WG
Marilyn Jones – FCC
Myrva Freeman – FCC
Kadian Ferguson – FCC
Gary Remondino – FCC
The purpose of the meeting was to provide the opportunity for the B&C WG co-chairs to meet with the new
FCC contracting agents, discuss the timeframe for the determination of the new factor, compare that with
the timeframe for the contracting of the new B&C Agent, determine any concerns with timeframe issues,
and address any potential issues related to the forecasting needs for the new factor.
In walking through the timeframe for the determination of the new factor for the next fiscal year, we discussed
the need for FCC input on the forecast items. Gary indicated that Welch should go to Myrva and Marilyn for
that forecast information. He pointed out that, for this next fiscal year, the NANPA and the PA contracts
would remain the same, but the variable will be the B&C Agent contract. For that item Gary suggested
using a figure at + 10%, but that the process for garnering forecast information should not change.
Concern was expressed for the alignment of the timeframes in order to meet the need in the 6/30/16 NANC
meeting to provide the proposed new factor. In walking through the timeframe for the contracting, Kadian
said that the selected vendor should be in place by 6/30/16, which is also the time of the end of the latest
Welch contract extension. Marilyn noted that this is a GSA scheduled contract, and said that the vendor
transition should be short, to enable the filing of the new factor in early July. Kadian noted that the s
Solicitation to award time scheduled is 30 days. She also said that this is an accounting function so the
transition between the vendors is planned
to be done in 30 days. That should meet the time needed to set up to do the billing of the new factor.
Gary said they do not expect any delays in getting the contracting work done.
In a discussion regarding the forecast, and potential inclusion of a large cost change order, Gary indicated
that he is aware of the change order. Concern was raised that any large impact on the factor is in conflict
with the B&C WG’s desire to keep the factor relatively the same, to avoid changes for the budgets of the
Service Providers. He is waiting for information to be provided to him by the NOWG on the change order.
Once he has that information, he will review it and can provide further information for the forecast.
;
Next Call:
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
10:00am Eastern 1 hour
Bridge:
913-315-1921 pin 88058916
Proposed Agenda:
Open Portion:
- Approve April 26,2016 meeting notes
- Review AprilNANP Report (Welch)
- Discuss Budget and Contribution Factor
- AprilDeliverable report
1