Consumer Advocates Critical of FCC USF Reform Process

Consumer advocates including the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocate have weighed in on Universal Service Fund (USF) reform and whether the Federal Communications Commission should use a model to help determine universal service support levels in areas where there is no private sector business case to provide broadband and voice services.

Despite the FCC's statement of purpose, the groups say it's Notice of Inquiry is absolutely unclear on what specific use the model is to be put once it is developed. The Connect America Fund (CAF) ­- where the model apparently will be used ­- has yet to be even set out for public comment. These and a host of other key questions need to be addressed before the model is finalized, much less applied, the groups say. This is not just putting the cart before the horse, it is attempting to design the cart before knowing whether it will be drawn by a Percheron, a blood Arabian, or an ox; before knowing whether the road is dirt, gravel, or asphalt; and, even more importantly, before knowing who will pay for the animal, the cart, or the road.