Alaska Carriers Support RCA's State USF Plan
Industry supported a proposed Alaska USF revamp that would sunset the revised AUSF after June 30, 2023, with a comprehensive review to begin by June 30, 2021. At a teleconferenced hearing Wednesday, officials for General Communication, Alaska Communications Systems and…
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other providers largely supported the Regulatory Commission of Alaska proposal based on a plan by the Alaska Telephone Association (see 1805090027). Commissioner Robert Pickett doesn’t like parts of the proposal, including its definition of “remote” and capping the revenue-based USF surcharge at 10 percent rather than 9 percent, but “collectively” finds the plan “somewhat workable.” The Alaska Attorney General Regulatory Affairs and Public Advocacy (RAPA) section recommended clarifying some language in Tuesday comments in docket R-18-001. RAPA doesn’t seek a specific rule addressing an “eroding intrastate contribution base,” but said “the possibility of shifting to a connections-based contribution base needs to be studied through future Commission, industry, and RAPA actions including possible workshops and studies.” Rural providers agree contributions reform is a critical state and federal issue and support looking at connections-based reform in a separate docket, said Moss & Barnett attorney Shannon Heim, representing a coalition of rural carriers. Heim is “unconvinced that there are enough connections in Alaska to make that type of methodology actually work here,” she said. Written comments are due June 15.