Carriers Seek USF Revamp Workshops at Nebraska PSC

Telecom companies urged convening of state USF contribution revamp workshops in Nebraska, even if they delay the Public Service Commission's proposed adoption of a connections-based mechanism (see 1703280032). CenturyLink, Cox Communications and Level 3 sought workshops, in reply comments dated April 21 and posted Wednesday at the PSC (NUSF-100). “It is abundantly clear that more information must be presented before a connections-based mechanism can be safely implemented,” and it’s OK if that causes the PSC to miss a self-imposed Jan. 1 deadline for action, Cox said. "Stabilization of the fund can be achieved in 2018 under the current methodology while a thoughtful, reasonable connections-based methodology is created.” In another reply, CTIA said the PSC shouldn’t adopt USF changes now but instead should urge the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service to craft a plan for all states. "Nebraska is not unique in seeing declining revenues for its universal service program,” CTIA said. “Other states are seeing similar trends,” but the Nebraska PSC is alone in proposing "a novel contribution mechanism,” it said. However, a rural independent company -- Great Plains Communications -- replied that the PSC should reject calls for delay. “Any such delay should not occur since the Commission has already amply demonstrated that NUSF contribution reform is an urgent matter due to the continued erosion of the NUSF remittances generated by the current NUSF contribution mechanism.”