FCC asked Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service to revie...

2nd lines. FCC said late Fri. it was asking Joint Board for recommendation on “if and how those rules should be modified… in light of developments in the telecommunications marketplace.” It also asked panel to look at process for designating ETC status. Joint Board review appears to center on issues that have been brewing between rural ILECs and competitors as well as concerns about increasing demand on universal service funds as competitive ETCs continue to qualify for more support. FCC said that under its rules competitive ETC that served customers in incumbent LEC area “receives the same per-line amount of high-cost universal service support that the incumbent LEC would receive for serving the same customer.” Rules “do not distinguish between primary and secondary lines” and “therefore, multiple connections to a single end- user in high-cost areas may receive universal service support,” FCC said: “Since the adoption of these rules in 1997, there have been many changes in the telecommunications marketplace. As competitive ETCs enter new markets and expand services, they are increasingly qualifying for high- cost universal service support.” FCC also asked for comments on whether “measures might be necessary to prevent such growth” in universal service fund. Agency said those issues also had been raised in other proceedings and petitions by ACS Fairbanks and National Telecom Cooperative Assn.