The FCC shouldn’t apply an interim cap on the Universal Service F...
The FCC shouldn’t apply an interim cap on the Universal Service Fund high-cost program until it weighs a petition for reconsideration (CD Aug 5 p3) by the Rural Cellular Association and a group of small wireless competitive eligible telecommunications…
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carriers, said the RCA. The RCA sought a stay late Monday, after filing the reconsideration petition Friday, when the interim cap took effect. The wireless CETC group could go to court. Under court rules, the group may file for court relief if the FCC denies the stay, doesn’t act on the motion for stay or denies the reconsideration petition. “If and when this matter reaches a circuit court of appeals,” the RCA said, “the court undoubtedly will have before it data from USAC showing what the Commission’s CETC-only cap actually saved the USF.” If the data show savings below 1 percent “as it does now,” the interim cap “will be greeted by judicial skepticism at best.”