The Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service has turned to Harrisburg, Pa.-based consulting firm Rolka, Loube, Saltzer Associates to help collect and analyze data on universal service and intercarrier compensation, the joint board announced in filings published Monday. The commission is expected to issue a rulemaking notice as early as February on the two matters (CD Dec 1 p1). The joint board will file its own reports on the efforts and is currently collecting data from telcos, the group said in its filing, which was part of dockets No. 05-337, 10-90, 09-51 and 01-92. Rolka, Loube bills itself as an expert in “administering state and federal universal services funds, subsidy program administration, providing expert testimony on behalf of public agencies and drafting orders in regulatory proceedings.” Its listed clients include Michigan State University’s Institute of Public Utilities, CTIA, the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate, the Universal Service Administrative Co., NextLink, XO Communications, the Alaska Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Justice Department. Company Vice President Robert Loube, a former top analyst at the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, and consultant Peter Bluhm, a former official with the joint board and the Vermont Public Services Board, will be the principal contacts for Rolka, the joint board said in its filing. President David Rolka is a former chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and NARUC board member.

U.S. Cellular accused Verizon Wireless of continuing to collect high-cost Universal Service Fund support in many states for 18 months after closing on its takeover of Alltel. Verizon collected “without filing with a number of state commissions an application to be designated” as an eligible telecommunications carrier and without “consent to transfer ETC status,” attorneys for U.S. Cellular said in a meeting with Wireline Bureau officials, according to an ex parte letter. Considering that Verizon Wireless told the Universal Service Administrative Co. in late 2009 and early 2010 of its plans to integrate its billing systems and begin reporting its legacy lines, it was incumbent on Verizon Wireless to seek state authority to include those lines before it began doing so.” Instead, U.S. Cellular said, “Verizon Wireless began reporting legacy lines and receiving the associated support without seeking state authority, or even informing state commissions of its plans.” A Verizon Wireless spokesman didn’t respond to a request to comment.

NTIA will get broadband oversight funding until March 4 under the continuing resolution signed Wednesday by President Barack Obama. The House voted 193-165 on Tuesday night to concur with the Senate, which passed the resolution in the afternoon (CD Dec 22 p8). The CR includes $40.6 million for NTIA and also exempts the Universal Service Fund from the Civil War-era Anti-Deficiency Act for another year.

NTIA will get broadband oversight funding until March 4 under the continuing resolution signed Wednesday by President Barack Obama. The House voted 193-165 on Tuesday night to concur with the Senate, which passed the resolution in the afternoon (WID Dec 22 p6). The CR includes $40.6 million for NTIA and also exempts the Universal Service Fund from the Civil War-era Anti-Deficiency Act for another year.

Correction: The FCC’s inspector general, not the Universal Service Administrative Co., issued an initial report that greatly overestimated improper payments by the Universal Service Fund (CD Dec 21 p5). An earlier item (CD Dec 1 p8) should have made it clear that USAC runs but didn’t create a low-income program criticized by the GAO.

The FCC on Tuesday approved net neutrality rules under Title I of the Communications Act, over scathing dissents by Commissioners Robert McDowell and Meredith Baker. Democrats Michael Copps and Mignon Clyburn also lobbed criticisms at the rules, saying they do not go far enough. The vote, after weeks of negotiations and months of build-up, was anticlimactic, since Copps and Clyburn had announced Monday they would not oppose the order (CD Dec 21 p1).

A continuing resolution approved Tuesday by the Senate includes broadband oversight money sought by the NTIA. It also prevents a spike in Universal Service Fund contributions by extending an exemption of the USF from a Civil War-era law. The resolution keeps the government running until March 4. The drama over broadband funding and the last-minute, temporary nature of the fix raised concerns about whether the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program can work long term.

The FCC on Tuesday approved net neutrality rules under Title I of the Communications Act, over scathing dissents by Commissioners Robert McDowell and Meredith Baker. Democrats Michael Copps and Mignon Clyburn also lobbed criticisms at the rules, saying they do not go far enough. The vote, after weeks of negotiations and months of build-up, was anticlimactic, since Copps and Clyburn had announced Monday they would not oppose the order.

A continuing resolution approved Tuesday by the Senate includes broadband oversight money sought by the NTIA. It also prevents a spike in Universal Service Fund contributions by extending an exemption of the USF from a Civil War-era law. The resolution keeps the government running until March 4. The drama over broadband funding and the last-minute, temporary nature of the fix raised concerns about whether the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program can work long term.

The FCC on Tuesday approved net neutrality rules under Title I of the Communications Act, over scathing dissents by Republican Commissioners Robert McDowell and Meredith Baker. Democrats Michael Copps and Mignon Clyburn also lobbed criticisms at the rules, saying they do not go far enough. The vote, after weeks of negotiations and months of build-up, was anticlimactic, since Copps and Clyburn had announced Monday they would not oppose the order.