NARUC 'Commends' Sen. Warner for Requesting Strong State Role in USF/ICC Reform

WASHINGTON-The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners issued the following statement supporting Senator Mark Warner's concerns regarding intercarrier compensation as expressed in his Oct. 21 letter to the Federal Communications Commission:

The crucial issue of Universal Service

"We commend Senator Warner for weighing in on the crucial issue of Universal Service and intercarrier compensation reform. In particular, we strongly agree with his request for maintaining a robust State role in arbitrating disputes. We as well agree with his request that the Federal Communications Commission provide clear requirements for direct interconnection with facilities-based VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) over managed networks. As the Senator says, without such direction, 'the competitive promise of the 1996 Act will remain unfulfilled.' Senator Warner is asking the right questions by the way, and we thank him for expressing these views."

NARUC is a non-profit organization founded in 1889 whose members include the governmental agencies that are engaged in the regulation of utilities and carriers in the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. NARUC's member agencies regulate telecommunications, energy, and water utilities. NARUC represents the interests of State public utility commissions earlier the three branches of the Federal government.