End ETC Designation to Increase Broadband Deployment, O'Rielly Says
USF could go further if the FCC eliminates the "mandatory, anachronistic ETC designation," Commissioner Mike O'Rielly blogged Thursday, referring to eligible telecom carriers. His priority is "ensuring that the Commission brings broadband access to as many unserved Americans as quickly…
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!
as possible, and that means eliminating regulatory asymmetries, technology bias, and inefficiencies," he said. Competition in USF broadband programs could help cut costs, he said. Some providers aren't ETCs and don't seek the label (see 2005290048). ETC status hasn't proven to be a guarantee of providers’ ability to meet service milestones, O'Rielly said.