The New York State Public Service Commission voted Thursday to...
The New York State Public Service Commission voted Thursday to extend to Sept. 30, 2011, transition funding for basic local exchange phone service in some rural areas. The fund was to run out May 31, 2011. The four-month extension will…
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cost $600,000 collected from customers of other communications carriers statewide, the commission said. “Given the anticipated exhaustion of this fund, as well as the rapid changes that have affected the communications industry in recent years, an extension of the fund reasonably balances the interests of customers of contributing and receiving telephone companies,” said commission Chairman Garry Brown. The move gives the commission time to resolve issues about universal access to basic phone service, including the role of wireline carriers, with or without state support, he added. The transition fund provides limited additional funding to local phone companies in rural areas if local service rates, capped at $23 monthly, don’t let companies meet their intrastate revenue requirement while maintaining reliable service. The vote also addressed a commission proceeding on universal service. According to the proposal adopted, two phases will be added to the proceeding setting schedules for review of such issues as whether there should be a long-term successor to the transition fund; reduction of intrastate access charges paid by interexchange carriers to local exchange carriers for originating and terminating calls; and whether to overhaul the fund supporting Lifeline service, emergency 911 and relay service for the hearing impaired, among others, the commission said.