USF CONTRIBUTION FACTOR MAY BREAK THROUGH 14% FOR FOURTH QUARTER

摘要

A record contribution factor of 14.1 percent of carriers' fourth- quarter long-distance revenuenhas been proposed to the FCC to support the Universal Service Fund. The figure is 1.8 pointsnhigher than the one used a year earlier and 1.2 points higher than the third quarter's 12.9npercent, the current record. The Universal Service Administrative Co. said it needs $2.1 billionnfrom carriers in Q4. To set the contribution factor, the commission divides the amount needednby projected carrier revenue. Of $2 billion in anticipated USF support, about $1.1 billion wouldngo to the rural high-cost program, $544.3 million to the E-rate program, $310 million tonlow-income support and $51.8 million to the rural health-care program. The low-incomenprogram is growing fastest.