Chances are slim the FCC will act on intercarrier compensation (I...

on more immediate matters, such as the 700 MHz auction, and ICC issues are notoriously difficult, panelists said. And 2008 is an election year, when less gets done in Washington, they said. The agency is likelier to take up only parts of the long-pending reform measure, such as phantom traffic or perhaps access charge pumping, said Verizon Vice President Kathy Grillo. “It’s hard to see the Commission moving the entire framework [of the complex ICC] issue forward,” said David Zesiger, senior vice president of Embarq. “At least, assuming the art of the possible, phantom traffic is possible,” given the fairly good chance the telecom industry could reach accord on it, he said. Asked by analyst Blair Levin if telecom issues might figure in election campaigns, Zesiger said “as a rule they don’t” but this time broadband deployment is a possibility. AT&T Senior Vice President Robert Quinn said he doubts it, since candidates will be running against President Bush’s record and telecom has had little impact on his record. “One potential election issue” is the proposed cap on wireless universal service subsidies, said U.S. Cellular’s Grant Spellmeyer. The cap plan being eyed by the FCC is a “potential homeland security issue,” he said. “I just don’t see shutting down handsets to areas of the country that are begging for them.” Moderator Levin asked what issues will face a new FCC chairman in 2009. “Universal service, intercarrier compensation and remaining parts of the IP enabled services” docket, said Zesiger. “Universal Service, intercarrier compensation and net neutrality,” Spellmeyer offered. The new chairman will face one more thing, said Levin: The February 17, 2009, DTV deadline. On another issue: Action is probable later this year on FCC Chairman Kevin Martin’s proposal to change the way carriers contribute to the Universal Service Fund, Zesiger said. Martin supports changing the contribution base from revenue to telephone numbers.