In light of a Senate Commerce Committee markup on VoIP (S-2281) s...

Hill Policy Luncheon sponsored by Nortel in Washington Wed., he said: “We are not going to touch these access charges until there is a universal, comprehensive uniform system for access charges on terminations of voice, video and data on anyone’s network. I think that’s a reasonable way to approach it. That is, we want this treated equitably and uniformly; that says there is going to be some system of reciprocal compensation unless you get to a bill and keep system, which is… I am not naive enough to [believe] that is going to happen any time soon.” He said “the biggest obstacle” was crafting “the technical language on access charges and the technical language on universal service… so that we go forward, but not backwards.” Sununu stressed that with IP-enabled services, the goal was to “create a consistent, clear regulatory environment, so that all participants know that if they are risking capital, what the standards, what the impact of the universal service or access charges will or will not be.” He said “it’s important to underscore… we don’t yet know the ways in which this technology will provide new services to customers.” Sununu said “we are trying to create a level playing field… There is going to be a period of transition, but in the long run, we are trying to get to a place where all forms of broadband communication are treated equitably, so that broadband cable versus DSL versus wireless broadband are on a relatively equal playing field. I want to take us in that direction, and certainly not to take us back.” Meanwhile, Michelle Carey, FCC Wireline Bureau Competition Div. policy chief, said the FCC was working “very actively” on a CALEA NPRM and expected to release it “sometime next month.” She listed the most significant issues for the Commission to address short term, while moving forward with the IP-Enabled services NPRM: (1) “How to define the scope of IP services.” (2) “What the appropriate access obligations should be.” (3) What universal service obligations should be. The FCC’s “authority over information services” is such “that we can require them to contribute [to the Universal Service Fund] if we feel that’s in public interest,” she said.