Oregon PUC Adopts USF Contribution Rule Changes

The Oregon Public Utility Commission unanimously adopted rules implementing a 2020 state law requiring interconnected VoIP and wireless to pay into state USF and reducing the surcharge cap to 6% of revenue from 8.5%. The law takes effect Jan. 1. It’s “unnecessary” to explicitly state that the state agency's authority doesn’t extend to VoIP and wireless, other than what's necessary to collect fees, as suggested by the Oregon Cable Telecommunications Association (see 2010300036), said the PUC order in docket AR 640.