The cable industry wants provisions made for Alaska in Universal...
The cable industry wants provisions made for Alaska in Universal Service Fund and intercarrier compensation rule changes, executives of NCTA and the state’s No. 1 cable operator GCI reported telling the top aide to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. NCTA said…
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CEO Michael Powell and Executive Vice President James Assey told FCC Chief of Staff Eddie Lazarus about “the unique costs and challenges of providing broadband in Alaska.” The association “urged the Commission to ensure that these challenges are adequately addressed,” it said a filing Tuesday in docket 10-90 (http://xrl.us/bmgimd). A letter posted Monday to the docket from GCI and Alaska Communications made the case for the phone and cable companies’ Alaska Connected America Fund (CD Sept 21 p19), which would be different from the Connect America Fund which the FCC may adopt for other states. The USF and ICC changes ILECs seek in their ABC plan, “if applied to Alaska, would likely halt the deployment and upgrade of telecommunications and broadband services in the state,” GCI reported separately telling Lazarus, Zac Katz -- Genachowski’s aide who’s helping to lead work on the order -- Wireline and Wireless Bureau officials and aides to Commissioners Michael Copps and Robert McDowell. The proposed plan would harm “the extension of basic wireless voice services to unserved areas, as well as the expansion and upgrade of broadband services,” the cable operator said (http://xrl.us/bmgim8).