FCC Cancels Divisive ICC/USF Vote

“Four commissioners provided the chairman bi-partisan, constructive and substantive suggestions, and stated that notice and comment should be sought on the proposals, with an understanding that we would all be prepared to vote on Dec. 18,” they said.

They added: “We remain committed to fulfilling our obligation to tackle these difficult issues, and have set forth a reasonable path for completing comprehensive reform. We remain hopeful that the consensus process we have pursued regarding this issue will ultimately lead to a thoughtful, well-reasoned item that will inure to the benefit all Americans.”

The total removal reduces the chances this item will come before this commission again, since its makeup will change once a new president takes office.

Still, the FCC must address a court remand of rules for ISP-bound dial-up calls, or old regulations will go back into effect. As telecom analysts for investment bank Stifel Nicolaus wrote in a client memo, those rules cap many Bell-to-CLEC and Bell-to-wireless payments for exchanging traffic.

Meanwhile, groups that had fought for transparency in the ICC/USF action and additional time to comment praised the FCC’s reform delay.

The National Telecommunications Cooperative Association praised McDowell, Tate, Copps and Adelstein for, as it said, recognizing the importance of due process.

“As the commission undertakes comprehensive universal service reform, it should focus on providing sufficient, sustainable, and predictable USF support for broadband throughout the high-cost, rural areas of United States, rather than on reducing or eliminating that support,” the association stated.

Meanwhile, Ray Baum, chairman of the [National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners telecom committee, said the organization hopes Martin will “agree with the other four FCC commissioners, an overwhelming number of lawmakers, state regulators, industry and consumer groups, and open these proposals for public comment.”

Other entities active in lobbying for a postponement had yet to release statements but presumably COMPTEL, NASUCA, the Rural Cellular Association and certain federal lawmakers were thrilled with the shift in events. Reps. Rick Boucher, D-Va., and Lee Terry, R-Neb., are among the House lawmakers who recently pressed Martin to “properly design” ICC/USF reform.

The commission on Tuesday still plans to vote on the “white spaces” issue. A number of companies want to use the unused spaces between digital TV broadcasting signals for wireless services and open-source devices. But high-profile figures including Dolly Parton and evangelical preacher Joel Osteen say use of white spaces will interfere with their wireless microphone transmissions.

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