WTA Files Reply Comments in USF Budget Proceeding

On June 26, WTA filed reply comments in response to the FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking released on March 23. WTA reiterated its support for increasing the size of the USF high cost program budget needs to be “substantially increased to reflect the transformation of the former voice and low-speed broadband network of seven years ago into today’s evolving high-speed broadband network” and for “full funding of existing ACAM participants up to a per-location funding cap of $200, as well as full funding of the HCLS and CAF-BLS mechanisms for cost-based RoR carriers.”

In addition, WTA expressed its agreement with USTelecom and NTCA that the RoR high-cost budget should be a single budget rather than a series of separate program budget, urged the Commission to adopt and implement a second model offer for glide path companies, and to encourage as much glide path participation as feasible.  WTA also urged the Commission to postpone consideration of a broader new model offer until after it has resolved the current outstanding issues regarding the increase in the 2011 high-cost program budget.