AT&T urged revisions to the contribution aspect of an FCC Univers...

also rejected the contribution approach detailed in Appendices A and C, plans that additionally tackle intercarrier compensation. All the plans would move USF contribution from a revenue-based approach to one based on the quantity of phone numbers and business connections that a carrier owns. AT&T wants a numbers-only contribution method. But if the FCC determines that there should be an additional assessment based on business connections, the agency should modify its proposed assessment measurements to make them “more technology neutral and forward-looking insofar as they are not based on legacy ILEC speed breakpoints,” AT&T said. Also, AT&T believes the FCC’s definition of “assessable number” is “confusing, introduces -- without explanation -- terminology not previously used by Congress or by the Commission, and is unnecessarily overreaching,” it said. AT&T wants a simple definition saying an assessable number is “a North American Numbering Plan (NANP) telephone number that enables a Final Consumer to make or receive calls.” The FCC definition left room for a post-number call identifier, but AT&T wants the FCC to instead seek further comment on that point, the carrier said. AT&T also asked the commission to expand the implementation period for contribution change to at least one year, from six months, plus an extra six months during which providers would “report numbers while continuing to contribute based on revenues.” AT&T also proposed edits related to other exemptions, subsidy funds, reseller certifications and Universal Service Administrative Co. invoices. Comments on the FCC’s three draft plans are due Wednesday. All FCC members other than Chairman Kevin Martin have said they want to vote on an overhaul at the Dec. 18 meeting, but Martin said last week it’s unlikely that that will happen (CD Nov 19 p2).