WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission last week said wireless companies could calculate their universal-service contributions based on interstate revenues of 15 percent for cellular and personal communications services-a figure almost double what one wireless trade association said would be acceptable.
FCC officials said the wireless industry agreed to the 15-percent level, but the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association says its numbers of 6 to 8 percent reflect FCC data on wireless interstate revenues. CTIA is expected to file comments urging the FCC to come up with numbers that are more realistic and accurate, said CTIA Regulatory Vice President Randall Coleman.
The FCC also set universal service contributions for paging services at 12 percent and analog specialized mobile radio service at 1 percent.
The wireless industry is concerned the FCC’s Common Carrier Bureau, which traditionally has handled wireline issues, has taken the lead on setting wireless universal-service contributions rather than the wireless telecommunications bureau. “This is coming out of the common carrier bureau. There has been frustration [on both sides] because there are no clear answers. The wireless industry and wireline industry speak two different languages,” said Angela Giancarlo, government relations manager for the Personal Communications Industry Association.
FCC officials do not believe this is a problem.
