Alaska USF Can't Go On This Way, Says RCA Commissioner
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska plans to vote on a short-term fix to Alaska USF and debate more comprehensive USF reform at the commissioners’ Nov. 8 meeting, Commissioner Robert Pickett said at the RCA’s Wednesday meeting. The short-term fix addresses…
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what to do in a shortage situation. On broader changes, Pickett said the existing structure "just does not fit the realities on the ground," but commissioners “have a wide range of opinions” on what to do. Commissioner Rebecca Pauli said she doesn’t know the right approach, but doing nothing isn't an option. The commission should set a date to terminate AUSF and come up with a replacement, Pauli said. Declining Alaska USF revenue led to the RCA proposing a Jan. 1 increase of the AUSF surcharge factor to 15.8 percent (see 1710040011).