Intercarrier Compensation/USF Reform Comment Period Set

The Federal Communications Commission has published a Notice in the Federal Register seeking comment on three specific proposals to reform intercarrier compensation and universal service. The first is the Chairman's Draft Proposal circulated to the Commission on October 15, 2008. The second proposal is a narrow universal service reform proposal circulated to the Commission on October 31, 2008. The third is a draft Alternative Proposal circulated to the Commission on November 5, 2008. Specifically, the Commission is seeking comment on whether the additional cost standard utilized under section 252(d) (2) of the Act be either the existing TELRIC standard or the incremental cost standard described in the draft order, and whether the terminating rate for all section 251(b) (5) traffic be set as either a single, statewide rate or a single rate per operating company. Comments are due on November 26, 2008. Reply comments are due on December 3, 2008. (WC Docket Nos. 06-122, 05-337, 04-36, 03-109, 01-92, 99-200, 99-68, 96-98, 96-45, FCC 08-262)