Rural telcos warned FCC in reply comments filed Mon. that alterin...

formed after initial comments were filed Feb. 26 on MAG plan, said it was based on finely crafted compromises. They said rural companies bought into plan only if all terms were retained to reflect those compromises: “In good faith, rural companies have generally endorsed the efforts of their various associations to work together to develop a ‘holistic’ plan for change in access charges, the universal service fund and subscriber line charges.” Companies expected FCC to either adopt or reject it, they said. However, many parties since have proposed changing it and rural telcos “must act to protect their rights,” AIRIT said. Comments “clearly demonstrate the intent of other… parties and interest groups to utilize the MAG and RTF [plans] as forums to advance their business agendas as opposed to the public interest,” they said. Telcos said they were even more concerned because alternative Rural Task Force (RTF) plan appeared to be inconsistent with Telecom Act. They said RTF would have to be changed to clarify its “disturbing aspects.” AIRIT said rural telcos were confused about RTF and didn’t realize it had problems: “The consensus reached by the rural industry as reflected in the MAG proposal did not contemplate the implementation of the troubling aspects of the RTF… plan.” Telcos said problem centered on RTF plan to convert universal service funding to per- line basis and make it portable.