Landline, wireless and cable telecom service providers urged the ...

Landline, wireless and cable telecom service providers urged the Minn. PUC to put on a pending access charge reform rulemaking and a related case for creation of a state universal service fund, until the FCC completes its pending dockets on intercarrier compensation reform and universal service fund reform. The Minn. Telecom Alliance, Minn. Independent Telecom Coalition, Minn. Cable Telecom Assn. and several individual telcos all said the issues in the state access and universal service dockets (Cases P-999/R-06-50 & 51) will be affected by the FCC’s decisions on intercarrier compensation and universal service. They said state action now risks conflict with the eventual FCC orders or unintended revenue shifts affecting the state’s carriers. A few companies, though, urged the PUC to continue. Sprint Nextel said current intrastate access charges are very high and the PUC should look into why intrastate charges are so far above the rates for comparable interstate access services. AT&T said the PUC should look into the high access charges of CLECs. AT&T also said establishment of a state universal service fund is an important feature of intrastate access reform.