[IP] FCC Chairman Martin Addresses NARUC
Begin forwarded message:
From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: July 26, 2005 2:14:13 PM EDT
To: Dewayne-Net Technology List <dewayne-net@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Dewayne-Net] FCC Chairman Martin Addresses NARUC
Reply-To: dewayne@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
FCC Chairman Martin Addresses NARUC
Reported by Colin Sandy
Kevin J. Martin made his first address to NARUC as FCC Chairman at
its annual meeting in Austin, Texas today. Chairman Martin focused
on three broad areas of regulation: Universal Service, Intercarrier
Compensation, and Broadband deployment. Martin called for flexible
and technologically neutral approaches to regulating in the three key
areas.
Opening his talk with Universal Service, Martin said the system is
“breaking” and criticized the current contribution and distribution
methodologies. He said it is a priority of his commission to
maintain a “sufficient and sustainable” fund. To achieve this goal,
he said the contribution method should be based on numbers for
several reasons. Martin said basing contribution on numbers: 1) has
legal authority under section 251 of the 1996 Telecommunications Act,
2) is easy to administer, 3) is technologically neutral, 4) is
understandable to consumers, 5) promotes numbering resource
conservation and 6) does not require new legislation. Chairman
Martin added in the Q&A session that states should be given greater
control over the utilization of numbering resources because state
PUCs are closer to the small businesses that are greatly affected by
numbering changes.
Chairman Martin said he supports a “rational and unified” approach to
Intercarrier Compensation that would reduce arbitrage, create
efficiencies, and encourage investment. Martin called a single
unitary rate “a step in the right direction,” but said that a rate of
zero or bill-and-keep was “not politically viable” because it would
create undesirable increases in end user rates. Martin praised and
encouraged the work of the NARUC Intercarrier Compensation Task
Force, which has been working on an industry solution for several
months. He also called for the creation of a methodology to lessen
the impact of intercarrier compensation reform on rural states and
rural areas, and mentioned the possibility of a “glide path” or
alternate regulation that would avoid a flash cut.
Chairman Martin stated that President Bush’s mandate to provide
universal broadband access by 2007 was a priority of the Commission.
To achieve this mandate Martin said there had to be an environment
that would encourage investment. The Chairman said the Commission is
quickly working towards regulatory parity between both broadband
services and broadband service providers. Martin said the “Brand X”
Supreme Court decision has given the Commission the opportunity for
them to level the playing field for broadband providers and provided
a “clear regulatory roadmap.” Although Chairman Martin said he
supports a broadband environment “free of economic regulation.” He
said that he is committed to meeting the needs of law enforcement and
said the same ability to warrant surveillance in a circuit switched
environment would be maintained in packet switched environment where
it is considered a substitute.
Commissioner Jorge Bauermeister, Chair of NARUC's Committee on
Consumer Affairs, commended Chairman Martin for allowing Spanish
translation for the deaf and hard of hearing to be compensated under
the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) program. Commissioner
Bauermeister will be leaving the Puerto Rico Commission next week to
start his own practice.
Weblog at: <http://weblog.warpspeed.com>
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