Input Sought to Guide Future PUC Regulations Related to Universal Access to Essential Telecommunications Services
 

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today launched a comprehensive review of its current regulations relating to universal telecommunications service in the Commonwealth.

The Commission voted 5-0 to issue an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANOPR) seeking comments from interested stakeholders on current regulations governing the Pennsylvania Universal Service Fund (USF) – and posing a series of specific questions to the regulatory industry, statutory advocates and the public related to USF reform options.

A 90-day public comment period will begin with the publication of this ANOPR in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, with any reply comments due within 120 days of publication.

The PUC is seeking input on how Pennsylvania’s universal service regulations interact with sweeping state and national changes in the telecommunications industry – continuing to ensure service availability and safeguarding consumers, while also enhancing competitive benefits.

At today’s meeting, Commissioners approved a motion by PUC Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille requesting stakeholder comments specific to the support of voice and internet networks and services as part of any revised USF structure.

“This remains a complex and ever-changing process.  Over the past 10 years, voice and internet service have both come to be viewed as essential public services needed by consumers,” Chairman Dutrieuille said.  “Pennsylvania has been providing universal service support for competitive long-distance voice service rates on networks for over 20 years, and I believe it is necessary for stakeholders to comprehensively respond.”

In supporting issuance of the ANOPR, Commissioner John F. Coleman Jr. raised some additional areas of inquiry for the ANOPR intended to aid in the comprehensive review of the USF and to ensure the Commission receives input on the full range of USF reform options.

Additionally, in a statement at today’s public meeting, Vice Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank also supported the ANOPR, stating “Anywhere in the state, a Pennsylvanian should be able to pick up a landline telephone and connect to the public switched telephone network to call a neighbor across the street, a loved one across the country, or access emergency services when there is a fire or they need medical attention – all at a high quality and at an affordable rate.”

Submitting Comments

Comments regarding the Universal Service Fund ANOPR may be filed electronically through the PUC’s eFiling system, in which case no paper copy needs to be filed with the Secretary of the Public Utility Commission provided that the filing is less than 250 pages – though certain items such as confidential or proprietary material cannot be eFiled.  

If you do not eFile, then you are required to mail, preferably by overnight delivery, one original filing, signed and dated, with the Commission’s Secretary at:

    Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
    Commonwealth Keystone Building 2nd Floor
    400 North Street
    Harrisburg, PA 17120

Comments must reference Docket No. L-2023-3040646.  All pages of filed comments, except for a cover letter, must be numbered.