Technologie i telekomunikacja · 11.01.2006

Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service; High-Cost Universal Service Support

In this document, the Commission seeks comment on issues raised by section 254(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the Act) and the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit's (Tenth Circuit) decision in Qwest Corp. v. FCC (Qwest II). We seek comment on how to reasonably define the statutory terms "sufficient" and "reasonably comparable" in light of the court's holding in Qwest II. We also seek comment on the support mechanism for non-rural carriers, which the Qwest II court invalidated due to the Commission's reliance on an inadequate interpretation of statutory principles and failure to explain how a cost-based mechanism would address problems with rates. We seek comment on a proposal by Puerto Rico Telephone Company, Inc. (PRTC) that the Commission adopt a non- rural insular mechanism.