FCC Should Keep States' Role for Lifeline ETC Designation Proccess, PUCs Say
The FCC shouldn't take away states' roles in the Lifeline eligible telecom carrier designation process because that could increase waste, fraud and abuse, said the California and Pennsylvania public utilities commissions in FCC filings in docket 10-90 and 11-42. The…
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FCC should also retain the rule that only ETCs are able to obtain Lifeline universal service support reimbursements, the Pennsylvania letter said. The PPUC believes Section 254(e) of the Telecom Act makes it clear that a common carrier must fulfill the condition of being designated as an ETC before it is eligible to receive federal universal service support, it said. "Section 214 is an express acknowledgement that the ETC designation process is within the purview of the states." The CPUC agreed, adding that the FCC should continue to strengthen the ETC designation process.