The American Cable Association said in comments filed at the Federal Communications Commission that voice providers with 100,000 access lines or fewer must not lose access to Universal Service Fund (USF) funding under any interpretation of ACA’s own proposal that would eliminate subsidies to telephone carriers that face competition in their markets from entities that are not dependent on government support.

"ACA agrees with those who believe that USF reform is needed to bring program costs under control and finance the new mission of providing support to operators that would provide broadband to consumers in unserved and underserved areas," ACA President and CEO Matt Polka said in a statement. "However, ACA does not believe that cutting off small voice carriers that receive the lion’s share of their revenue from USF mechanisms cold turkey would, as some have suggested, serve the public interest."

ACA’s comprehensive USF reform proposal would cap the size of the $4.4 billion fund and withdraw support from large voice providers and all wireless providers that face competition from entities that have demonstrated they can compete against incumbents without USF support. Realized savings would provide the FCC with billions of dollars on a recurring basis to support broadband deployment projects for the first time in the agency’s 76-year history.

ACA’s comments came in response to an FCC public notice seeking comment on USF reform proposals volunteered by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association. Unlike ACA, NCTA would employ a competitive-carrier test to all incumbent phone carriers receiving USF support, regardless of the number of subscriber access lines that have been placed into service by any particular carrier.

The Daily

Subscribe
Friday–December 13

State of DEI: NAMIC, AIM Analyze Workforce Representation

At a time when investments in DEI efforts are being questioned, NAMIC is checking in to remind the industry of the tangible change these initiatives are making.

Read the Full Issue
The Skinny is delivered on Tuesday and focuses on the cable profession. You'll stay in the know on the headlines, topics and special issues you value most. Sign Up

Calendar

Apr 16
Cablefax 100 Awards Nominations Open November 13th, 2024.
Full Calendar

Jobs

Seeking an INDUSTRY JOB or hiring for one?
VIEW JOBS

In conjunction with our sister brand, Cynopsis, we are offering hiring managers a deep pool of media-savvy, skilled candidates at a range of experience levels and sectors. The result will be an even more robust industry job board, to help both employers and job seekers.

Contact Carley Ashley, [email protected], for more information about posting a job on the website and our Jobs newsletter, sent twice weekly to 85,000 media professionals.