Oregon Requires State USF Contribution From VoIP, Wireless
A fresh Oregon USF law mooted Public Utility Commission action on USF contribution. The PUC closed docket AR-615 on requiring contributions from interconnected VoIP providers Thursday, after Gov. Kate Brown (D) signed SB-1603 Tuesday to apply the state USF surcharge…
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to VoIP and wireless providers. The law reduces the revenue-based rate to 6% from 8.5% and caps the state USF at $28 million annually. It directs the PUC to transfer up to $5 million from state USF to a new broadband fund. The Oregon law’s requirement to collect from VoIP appears consistent with federal law, said Voice on the Net Coalition Executive Director Glenn Richards. CTIA referred us Thursday to its June 24 testimony opposing the bill. "This legislation would result in wireless consumers paying in excess of $35 million annually" on state USF surcharges, the wireless association wrote.