NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON THE ALASKA UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND IN THE
REGULATIONS OF THE REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska (Commission) proposes, in Docket R-17-001, to adopt and amend regulations in Title 3 of the Alaska Administrative Code dealing with the Alaska Universal Service Fund (AUSF), including the following:
- 3 AAC 53.340(c) will be revised to require a public utility to reconcile its gross intrastate revenues reported in the annual report to the AUSF administrator, with the revenues reported in its twelve monthly remittance worksheets.
- 3 AAC 52.340(e) will be revised to add provisions establishing that revisions to data will not be accepted later than six months after the data month for which the revision applies, any prior-period adjustment request of five percent or more requires a detailed explanation of that request, and any cumulative adjustment of $25,000 or more from a carrier in a calendar year requires Commission approval.
- 3 AAC 53.350(d) will be revised to direct the fund administrator that the amount of Lifeline support provided shall be the eligible service discount that remains after Federal Lifeline support contributions have be maximized. In addition, the Lifeline provider reporting requirements will be revised.
- 3 AAC 53.350(e) will be revised to reflect the changes on how universal service support payments are to be disbursed when there is a shortage in the AUSF for a particular month. In addition, a provision will be added allowing eligible but unpaid universal service support to be deferred for a period up to six months.
- 3 AAC 53.350(g) will add a new subsection that allows unpaid eligible support deferred from prior months to be paid in the case of an AUSF surplus after administrative costs and current eligible universal service support is paid. In addition, the new subsection includes a provision that any claim to deferred eligible support not paid after six months is vacated.
You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska at 701 West 8th Avenue, Suite 300, Anchorage, Alaska 99501. Additionally, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska will accept comments via the Commission’s website at: https://rca.alaska.gov/RCAWeb/WhatsNew/PublicNoticesComments.aspx.
Comments may also be submitted electronically through the Alaska Online Public Notice System by accessing this notice on the system and using the “comment” link. All comments must be received not later than 5:00 p.m., on September 20, 2017. No reply comments are scheduled.
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Joyce McGowan at (907) 276-6222, toll-free at 1-800-390-2782 or TTY (907) 276-4533 no later than three business days before the relevant public comment period ends, to ensure that any necessary accommodation can be provided.
Since this is a regulation proceeding, commenters are not required to serve their comments on other entities or persons set out on the service list of this Notice. Interested persons may request from the Commission copies of the comments filed in this proceeding. For a copy of the proposed regulation changes and related material contact the Commission’s Records & Filings Section at the above address or at (907) 276-6222 or go to: http://rca.alaska.gov/RCAWeb/home.aspx. Those seeking to obtain the materials at the above website must pick “All Open Rulemaking Dockets” under Top Searches and choose matter number R-17-001.
After the public comment period ends, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulations may be different from that of the proposed regulation. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected. Written comments received are public records and are subject to public inspection.
Statutory Authority: AS 42.05.141; AS 42.05.145; AS 42.05.151; AS 42.05.431; AS 42.05.711; AS 42.05.800; AS 42.05.840
Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific: AS 42.05.141; AS 42.05.145; AS 42.05.151; AS 42.05.306
Fiscal Information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
DATE: August 21, 2017 Stephen McAlpine, Chairman
ADDITIONAL REGULATION NOTICE INFORMATION
(AS 44.62.190(g))
1. Adopting agency: Regulatory Commission of Alaska
2. General subject of regulation: Alaska Universal Service Fund Disbursements
3. Citation of regulation (may be grouped): 3 AAC 53.340, 3 AAC 53.350
4. Department of Law file number, if any:
5. Reason for the proposed action:
( ) Compliance with federal law
( ) Compliance with new or changed state statute
( ) Compliance with court order
( ) Development of program standards
(X) Other (identify): addressing universal service fund shortfalls
6. Appropriation/Allocation: None
7. Cost of implementation to the state agency and available funding (in thousands of dollars):
Initial Year Subsequent
FY 2017 Years
Operating Cost $ 0 $ 0
Capital Cost $ 0 $ 0
1002 Federal receipts $ 0 $ 0
1003 General fund match $ 0 $ 0
1004 General fund $ 0 $ 0
1005 General fund/
program $ 0 $ 0
Other (identify) $ 0 $ 0
8. The name of the contact person for the regulation:
Name: Jeffrey Davis
Title: Administrative Law Judge
Address: 701 W 8th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501
Telephone: 907-263-2176
E-mail address: Jeffrey.davis@alaska.gov
9. The origin of the proposed action:
__X_ Staff of state agency
_____ Federal government
_____ General public
_____ Petition for regulation change
_____ Other (identify)
10. Date:_August 21, 2017__
Name (printed) Jeffrey Davis
Title (printed): Administrative Law Judge
Telephone: 201-263-2176