Confusion in Alaska Over Telecom Deregulation Law

2001170047). First up, the commission will consider its power over access charge ratemaking at its June 10 meeting, said Chairman Bob Pickett. “Does the commission have a legitimate role in this or is it just a rubber stamp?” The commission will mull its authority over eligible telecom carrier designation for federal USF at the June 24 meeting, state USF on July 8, interconnection and joint use dispute resolution July 22, telecom relay service Aug. 12, and transfers and discontinuances Aug. 26, said the chairman. “It’s time to get things together quickly.” Pickett doesn’t “want to try to expand our authority under SB-83,” but the commission needs “specific language for the regs coming out of each of these discussions on what the commission will do and won’t do,” he said. Carriers don’t agree on the access charge ratemaking authority issue “or virtually any of the others,” noted Commissioner Stephen McAlpine. “The state of confusion that exists is going to require the commission at some point to just go forward, issue regulations as we can best interpret them, and let the chips fall where they will.” Carriers can “pursue whatever mechanism they see fit to straighten it out,” he said. Commissioner Daniel Sullivan concurred, “This is going to be sorted out one way or the other, maybe at some point legally.” The RCA clearly needs more clarity from the legislature, said Commissioner Antony Scott. “We really don’t know what they meant.”