Telcos will need to collect at least $27 million extra...
Telcos will need to collect at least $27 million extra in Universal Service Fund assessments to help pay for the newly launched Connect America Fund, the Universal Service Administrative Company told the FCC in a letter released Thursday on dockets…
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05-337 and 06-122. Given the budget set by the October Connect America order (CD Oct 28 p1), the high cost fund will need at least $1.2 billion per quarter, “which is $27.96 million higher” than the estimate given to the FCC by USAC in November, USAC said in Thursday’s letter (http://xrl.us/bmm826). Thursday’s letter doesn’t change earlier forecasts, but it does eliminate the $77 million that had been set aside for competitive eligible telecom carriers, USAC said. “The total High Cost Support Mechanism funding requirement, including funds reserved pursuant to the Connect America Fund Order ... is $1,125.00 million [billion], adjusted as follows: increased by a prior period adjustment of $98.67 million, increased by administrative costs of $4.60 million and reduced by projected interest income of $2.04 million, resulting in a total projected 1Q2012 High Cost Support Mechanism funding requirement of $1,226.22 million [billion],” USAC said.