Wireless competitive eligible telecommunications carriers (CETCs) are up in arms over the proposed cap on the universal service fund (USF) by the FCC. Wireless CETCs argue that capping USF amounts to favoritism for incumbent wireline carriers at the very time that they are starting to feel competitive heat. Of course, there are two sides to every story. The FCC and incumbent wireline carriers argue that USF was not put in place to foster competition, but rather, to build out telecom infrastructure in rural and other underserved territory. It’s a heated battle with hundreds of millions of dollars, if not billions at stake. This flare up reveals how contentious USF is and how difficult achieving reform will be.
Read this RCR Wireless article for more insight.
