RCA Warns of 'Escalating Crisis' in Alaska USF Order
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska issued a 4-1 final decision adopting USF changes proposed by the Alaska Telephone Association. Wednesday’s order in docket R-18-001 follows commissioners’ August 5-0 oral vote to sunset the Alaska USF in five years and adopt…
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the ATA plan (see 1808090025). “Our decision to make significant revisions to the AUSF is intended to correct the escalating crisis resulting from a large decrease in assessable intrastate revenues and the resultant increase in the AUSF surcharge paid by intrastate telecommunications consumers,” RCA said. The ATA plan “continues to promote parity of intrastate and interstate long distance rates and also maintains a support mechanism designed to compensate LECs for reductions in access charge revenues and for fulfilling [carrier of last resort] duties,” RCA said. It’s “an acceptable transitional measure that will prevent further escalation of the AUSF and related surcharge,” the agency said. The decision may be appealed within 30 days, it said. Commissioner Stephen McAlpine dissented from the written order.