FCC Comr. Adelstein has “long supported a revenue approach” for raising money for the Universal Service Fund “because it’s easier to administer,” he told OPASTCO members Wed. at their winter meeting in Maui. That doesn’t mean he would reject proposals to move away from revenue, he told them. “I'm open to exploring all alternatives; I don’t reject any of these” proposals for reforming the USF contributions system, but none of them is “a panacea,” he said. The FCC is considering changing the way carriers contribute to the USF because of concern the current revenue-based approach no longer works due to changes in industry technology. Adelstein told the group universal service reform is one of the top 3 issues before the FCC this year. Others are intercarrier compensation and IP-based services -- and all 3 are interrelated. “I don’t know if we ever had such a big nut to crack” at the FCC, he said: “Each one of those 3 proceedings is a huge challenge and complicated on its own” and all have to be done in concert. During a Q-&-A session after Adelstein’s speech, rural telecom executives emphasized their concern about phantom traffic. Phantom traffic needs to be dealt with before the FCC takes on USF reform because “the basics need to be handled first,” said a telecom official from Minn. Adelstein said he agreed there was “a good argument for doing it first.” He told the group that “some people, I think, prefer to have this [issue] out there as a driver” to force consensus among supporters of various proposals. However, phantom traffic “may be harder” to fix if regulators wait, he said. In answer to another question, Adelstein said FCC rules require video content providers to offer nondiscriminatory access to their content at reasonable rates but the rules are limited. It’s “contrary to the intent” of the rules for companies to use their “vast hold on the market” to impede access to content, he said. One audience member asked if it made sense for rural carriers to keep “pouring” money into networks while intercarrier compensation and USF reform remained pending. Adelstein told him the FCC, and the Senate Commerce Committee, strongly support USF. “We can’t afford to let these networks go. They are critical to future economic competitiveness.”
FCC Chmn. Martin made it clear he still backs a numbers-based approach to reforming the way companies contribute to the Universal Service Fund (USF), despite concerns about that method’s effect on low-volume telephone users. User groups have said a phone number- based approach would hike USF fees carriers pass on to customers.
Universal service fund (USF) support would be used for broadband deployment, under a discussion draft released Thurs. of a bill by Reps. Terry (R-Neb.) and Boucher (D-Va.). The bill would expand the USF base by requiring payments into the fund by service providers that use telephone numbers or IP addresses or sell network connections. “To change USF, I believe that all who play must pay,” said Terry. He called the draft a vehicle for reform that would remedy “inequities that exist today.” Boucher said he’s seeking comments on the draft by Dec. 23 and plans to introduce a bill next year.
State lawmakers from across the U.S. will tackle telecom and technology issues this week at the National Conference of State Legislatures’ annual conference in Seattle. Proposed state and national telecom law rewrites and wrangles over municipal Wi-Fi are among the hot topics at the 5-day conference, which begins today (Tues.). About 7,000 state legislators, policy experts, advocates, govt. leaders and media are expected to attend.
State lawmakers from across the U.S. will tackle telecom and technology issues this week at the National Conference of State Legislatures’ annual conference in Seattle. Proposed state and national telecom law rewrites and wrangles over municipal Wi-Fi are among the hot topics at the 5-day conference, which begins today (Tues.). About 7,000 state legislators, policy experts, advocates, govt. leaders and media are expected to attend.
The FCC voted at its open meeting Fri. to reduce regulation of wireline broadband service by reclassifying it as an “information service,” in line with the FCC’s treatment of cable modem service. The U.S. Supreme Court in June upheld the agency’s cable modem classification in the Brand X case, triggering action on the wireline companion piece which had been placed on hold during the litigation.
The FCC voted at its open meeting Fri. to reduce regulation of wireline Internet access service by reclassifying it as an “information service,” in line with the FCC’s treatment of cable modem service. The U.S. Supreme Court in June upheld the agency’s cable modem classification in the Brand X case, triggering action on the wireline companion piece which had been placed on hold during the litigation. DSL is the most common wireline Internet access service.
When the USF was new, Franklin Roosevelt wasn’t halfway through his first term. Even so, the venerable program still has a startling capacity to make news.
WILLIAMSBURG, Va -- Comr. Abernathy called for a change in the Sunshine rules to let FCC commissioners meet in private as needed to get consensus on complex issues out of the public eye. Abernathy told the FCBA annual retreat held here Fri. and Sat. that 1970s-vintage rules work against development of policy on critical but complicated issues.
Chmn. Powell announced Fri. he will leave the FCC in March. With key issues pending for all communications sectors, sources agreed the next chmn. is likely to maintain Powell’s policies in the broadest sense, including an emphasis on competition and on promoting new technologies.