Banking reclaimed high cost support will hurt wireless competition and consumers
The Rural Telecommunications Group (RTG) filed comments with the FCC today addressing the issues raised by various parties in the FCC’s Corr Wireless proceeding.
RTG argues that amending the Interim Cap Rule and not redistributing reclaimed support to existing eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) will result in harm as the record shows that:
- redistributing support to existing wireless competitive eligible telecommunications carriers (CETCs) will help increase the number of wireless networks in rural areas, and
- consumers in rural areas throughout the country will be harmed by the FCC’s decision not to redistribute the so-called “reclaimed” support.
RTG also makes the case that the FCC should not reclaim High-Cost Support and reserve it indefinitely for unspecified purposes. RTG argues that “universal service reform must be based upon a solid legal foundation” and that the FCC’s decision to bank reclaimed high-cost support for future use does not rest on solid legal ground when scrutinized under the universal service provisions of the Communications Act.
About RTG – Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Rural Telecommunications Group is a trade association representing rural wireless carriers who serve less than 100,000 subscribers. RTG’s members have joined together to speed delivery of new, efficient and innovative telecommunications technologies to remote and underserved communities. www.ruraltelecomgroup.org @RTGwireless
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