Rural Task Force (RTF) proposal to reform universal service is ex...
Rural Task Force (RTF) proposal to reform universal service is expected to be on FCC agenda at open meeting May 10, USTA officials and other sources said Wed. USTA Interim Pres. Gary Lytle said association is pleased with what…
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it thinks FCC plans to do: (1) Approve RTF proposal with little change, meaning it will continue to base universal service support on embedded costs rather than Total Element Long-Run Incremental Cost (TELRIC). (2) Not combine RTF plan with one proposed by Multi-Assn. Group (MAG) that targets both universal service and access charges for reform. MAG group has urged FCC not to consider access charge reform as part of RTF. USTA is part of MAG group, which also includes National Telephone Co-op Assn, National Rural Telecom Assn., OPASTCO. In wide-ranging news briefing, Lytle said FCC was expected to approve “largely what the [Federal-State] Joint Board [on Universal Service] recommended.” Both plans are aimed at rural telephony. RTF proposal would increase size of universal service system for rural carriers and make funding portable.