USTelecom “generally supports adjustments” to the Connect America...
USTelecom “generally supports adjustments” to the Connect America Cost Model to “better reflect the special characteristics of particular insular areas,” the association told the FCC Friday (http://bit.ly/13aJ2Sq). The letter was in response to Alaska Communications Systems proposals of several Alaska-specific…
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adjustments to the model, currently under development by the FCC Wireline Bureau. “USTelecom agrees with ACS that the CAM [cost model] currently does not fully reflect Alaska-specific cost inputs, and produces an unreasonably low amount of support for the ACS price cap LECs, which provide service only in Alaska,” the association said. “Adjustments to the areas of the CAM that ACS proposes to modify, together with an extension of the CAF Phase II build-out period, are necessary to bring the results of the CAM more closely in line with a sufficient level of support to provide broadband to locations in its service territory that qualify for support under CAF Phase II.” USTelecom also expressed its opposition to a “hold-harmless” approach that would give certain insular carriers model-based support while others receive frozen support. “Such an approach raises the concern that some support levels would not be fully justified by the cost characteristics of the recipient carrier’s service area,” it said.