CONGRESS MEMBERS KEEP COMPLAINING TO MARTIN ABOUT INTERCARRIER COMP

摘要

Hill opposition to intercarrier compensation proposals continued. Senators and House members sent letters to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin. Legislators complained about a lack of openness about the process in addition to criticisms over substance. "Fundamental fairness suggests that the public at least have the chance to read the full proposed order prior to Commission consideration," said Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, the ranking member of the House Commerce Committee. "It is clear that the FCC process ... falls short of what is required," said a letter signed by Senate Commerce Committee members from both parties. Federal law requires agencies to provide for public participation "through adequate notification and the opportunity for interested parties to provide comment," said Sens. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. The proposals for intercarrier compensation and universal service could "dramatically change the landscape of the telecommunications industry," the letter said. "It would be negligent on the FCC's part to introduce such regulatory uncertainty when the country is facing such uncertain economic times." Barton said the USF proposal "misses the mark," although the cap on high-cost spending is a "good start." But it "locks in incumbent providers rather than bring competition to rural America," Barton said.