OPASTCO urged FCC to set higher benchmark for prices charged by r...

OPASTCO urged FCC to set higher benchmark for prices charged by rural CLECs for access because their costs were higher. Commenting on FCC public notice that asked about effect of benchmarks on rural CLECs (CC Doc. 96-262), OPASTCO said it supported idea of benchmarks to hold down CLEC access charges but “a single benchmarked rate would not be suitable for all CLECs.” Higher cutoff should be established “for CLECs serving rural or high-cost areas that suitably reflects their higher costs of providing service,” OPASTCO said. Assn. said all of its members were rural telcos and about 1/3 of them operated CLECs.