NARUC Panel Supports USF Reform

On Feb 14, the Telecommunications Subcommittee of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners gathered a diverse group of experts to discuss the Proposed Rulemaking on Universal Service Fund Reform the Federal Communications Commission recently issued.

The panel brought together a wide range of experts, including Joel Lubin from AT&T, James Cawley from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, and Parul Desai from Consumers Union. The group represented a range of opinions but they all agreed that the NPRM was an essential update to the Universal Service Fund. “It was good to see that broadband was finally included in universal service and the goal of 4Mbps down is promising,” said Desai. Cawley was also supportive of the speed goal calling it “reasonable and measured”. Mike Balhoff, from the consulting firm Balhoff & Williams, described how the group felt about the NPRM, saying, “the gun is to our heads and now necessary reform will have to occur.” Eric Einhorn from rural broadband provider Windstream, indicated that his firm was particularly pleased that the FCC choose to be technologically neutral in their plan to modify high cost support to a single entity. Einhorn hoped this would allow for true competition between wireline and wireless.