Carriers Balk at Missouri USF Possibly Covering Broadband
Missouri law prevents using state USF for broadband-only service, carriers commented Monday in case TW-2017-0078 on Public Service Commission-proposed USF revisions. The PSC proposed supporting broadband in the state’s low-income program and establishing a high-cost fund for broadband in underserved…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Communications Daily is required reading for senior executives at top telecom corporations, law firms, lobbying organizations, associations and government agencies (including the FCC). Join them today!
areas (see 1710230048). “Absent the General Assembly adopting legislation authorizing expenditure of MoUSF funds to support broadband, the Commission may not adopt Staff’s proposed 4 CSR 240-31.010(5), which violates both Missouri law and EO 17-03,” Verizon commented. Proposals to expand support to broadband “greatly exceed the scope” of the governor’s mandate to streamline commission rules, AT&T said. The Missouri Cable Telecommunications Association concurred: "Issues raised by expanding the Missouri USF to support retail broadband service and funding the build out of retail broadband service to underserved areas are complicated and controversial, and should not be included in an effort to streamline and simplify the rules,” it commented. The agency's legal department decided existing law allows the proposed expansion of the Lifeline program to wireline but not wireless broadband services, PSC Staff Director Natelle Dietrich told us.