Alaska Commissioners Seek Feedback on State USF Plans
Regulatory Commission of Alaska members voted 4-0, with one member absent, to seek comments on Alaska USF (AUSF) proposals by RCA staff and the Alaska Remote Carrier Coalition (ARCC). Comments will be due in 30 days, replies 20 days later,…
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commissioners decided at a Wednesday virtual meeting. Chairman Bob Pickett said he will bring commissioners back April 27 to discuss staff questions, including on AUSF’s role and future funding amounts and methods. While not opposing taking extra comment, Pickett said he hopes the proceeding won’t stretch until fall. “This thing needs to be resolved ASAP.” Progress was “limited” at last month’s technical conference on the staff proposal (see 2203180066), RCA Common Carrier Specialist David Parrish told commissioners. It’s time for the "commission to make some tough policy calls,” he said. It appears support is needed, but it’s difficult for RCA members to tell how much support is required in the state that deregulated telecom, said Commissioner Antony Scott. Commissioners agreed the RCA’s limited authority to compel specific relevant data is a challenge. The ARCC filed an alternative proposal Tuesday, the second it filed in docket R-21-001. It proposes a voice connections-based contribution method and distributing most statewide support to remote areas disconnected from roads. It would defer for five years addressing middle-mile transport cost support so the state can assess the impact of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.