All in USF
On March 30, 2016, the Federal Communications Commission released a Report and Order, Order and Order on Reconsideration, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that make significant changes to the universal service rules governing rate-of-return incumbent local exchange carriers. One of the most significant changes in the order gives some, but not all, rate-of-return ILECs the option to move to cost model regulation.
The Federal Communications Commission has released a Report and Order, Order and Order on Reconsideration, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that make significant changes to the universal service rules governing rate-of-return incumbent local exchange carriers.
The FCC has denied a petition filed by Sandwich Isles Communications, Inc. seeking waiver of the $250 per line per month cap on high-cost USF support for a period of ten years. The FCC concluded Sandwich Isles failed to show good cause for the waiver after determining Sandwich Isles has certain expenses that appear grossly excessive and unreasonable.
The FCC has released of a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking asking for stakeholder input on whether the existing USF contributions system should be modified or whether it should be replaced with an entirely new system. The FCC wants responses, input, proposals, and detailed data from all USF stakeholders, including contributors, potential contributors, individual consumers, business consumers, consumer advocacy groups, and state and Tribal governments.
