Verizon backs an FCC proposal to assess VoIP providers for Univer...
Verizon backs an FCC proposal to assess VoIP providers for Universal Service Fund contributions, an official there said Wed., commenting on a Communications Daily article on FCC plans (CD May 31 p1). Verizon’s broader goal is a move from…
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the revenue-based contributions process to one based on phone numbers, the official said: “It’s important that all providers contribute in the same way.” Before making so major a change, it would be proper for the FCC to impose interim assessments on VoIP, the executive said: “The FCC should assess VoIP providers under current rules, and has the authority to do it.” In a paper sent the FCC last week, Verizon proposed a “safe harbor” approach to decide how much VoIP provider revenue to subject to USF contributions. Under today’s system, only interstate revenue is subject to USF fees. Verizon’s paper pushed the wireless safe harbor as an alternative -- 28.5% of wireless retail revenue is considered interstate and thus subject to fees. The FCC reportedly is eyeing such a plan as a way to sustain the USF on an interim basis once DSL revenue no longer is subject to contributions. The FCC plans to remove DSL from the contributions base in Aug.