CTIA sides with Martin on numbers-based contribution for USF

[SOURCE: RCRNews, AUTHOR: Heather Forsgren Weaver]
CTIA is changing its USF tune and siding with FCC Chairman Kevin Martin in his battle to change the way universal service is paid for. Chairman Martin -- and now CTIA -- wants to base universal service funds on telephone numbers, instead of the current system that works on percentages of long distance and international revenues. However, CTIA’s new position does not support a straight contribution mechanism; the wireless trade association proposes several discounts for certain classes of customers. For example, CTIA proposes that regulators only assess the full fee on the primary number of a wireless family plan. All other numbers would receive a 50 percent discount. CTIA argues that members of a wireless family plan work like line extension in the wireline world.
http://www.rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=25644