FCC Considering Changes in USF?

The FCC is collecting comments on changes to the Universal Service Fee. Don’t get your hopes to see it disappear, at best it would be a restructuring. –

In this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Notice), we seek comment on ways to reform the high-cost universal service program. Specifically, we seek comment on the ecommendation of the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service (Joint Board) regarding comprehensive reform of high- cost universal service support. We also incorporate into this Notice the following two Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs): (1) the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking released by the Commission on January 29, 2008, which seeks comment on the Commission’s rules governing the amount of high-cost universal service support provided to eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs), including elimination of the “identical support rule;” and (2) the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking released by the Commission on January 29, 2008, which seeks comment on whether and how to implement reverse auctions (a form of competitive bidding) as the disbursement mechanism for determining the amount of high-cost universal service support for ETCs serving rural, insular, and high-cost areas.2 We also will incorporate the records developed in response to those Notices of Proposed Rulemaking into this proceeding. We note, however, that such incorporation of these two NPRMs does not change or otherwise affect, and we expressly
preserve, the positions of the Commission members with regard to those particular NPRMs and the Joint Board’s recommendation.

They are also considering using reverse auction methodology as well.

FCC Notice 1.
FCC Notice 2.