7/6/16 N.Y. St. Reg. PSC-27-16-00006-P
PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE State Administrative Procedure Act, NOTICE is hereby given of the following proposed rule:
Proposed Action:
The Commission is considering a Joint Proposal filed by several parties that would continue the current State Universal Service Fund (SUSF) past its expiration date of 12/31/16 for four years.
Statutory authority:
Public Service Law, sections 4, 5, 90, 91, 92, 94 and 97
Subject:
Continuation of the State Universal Service Fund.
Purpose:
To consider a proposal to continue the SUSF for an additional four years, through 12/31/20.
Substance of proposed rule:
The Public Service Commission is considering a Joint Proposal that would provide for a four-year continuation of the current State Universal Service Fund (SUSF), past its December 31, 2016 expiration date, with a $6.5 million per year maximum funding commitment, for a total of $26 million. The terms of the Joint Proposal would continue the administrative and eligibility framework established by the Commission in its August 17, 2012 decision in Case 09-M-0527. For example, eligible recipients for SUSF disbursements will remain unchanged from the 31 smaller incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) previously determined by the Commission to be eligible to receive SUSF disbursements. Also, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) and wireless carriers would not be required to contribute to the fund. The Joint Proposal signatories are Department of Public Service Staff, Verizon New York Inc., Frontier Communications, New York State Telecommunications Association, Smaller ILEC Group, Cable Telecommunications Association of New York, Inc., and the Department of State Utility Intervention Unit. The Commission may adopt, reject or modify, in whole or in part, the Joint Proposal and may consider related matters.
Text of proposed rule and any required statements and analyses may be obtained by filing a Document Request Form (F-96) located on our website http://www.dps.ny.gov/f96dir.htm. For questions, contact:
John Pitucci, Public Service Commission, 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350, (518) 486-2655, email:
john.pitucci@dps.ny.govData, views or arguments may be submitted to:
Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, Public Service Commission, 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350, (518) 474-6530, email:
secretary@dps.ny.govPublic comment will be received until:
45 days after publication of this notice.
Regulatory Impact Statement, Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, Rural Area Flexibility Analysis and Job Impact Statement
Statements and analyses are not submitted with this notice because the proposed rule is within the definition contained in section 102(2)(a)(ii) of the State Administrative Procedure Act.
