The FCC Wireline Bureau must “act quickly to...

The FCC Wireline Bureau must “act quickly to address the uncertainty resulting from [the Universal Service Administrative Co.’s] attempt to pull apart an integrated information service to find telecommunications revenue,” Cisco told agency officials Jan. 24, according to a Thursday ex parte filing (http://bit.ly/1bWNqF8). Cisco’s WebEx product is “undoubtedly an information service,” with specialized audio inputs that “go far beyond” mere “transmission” of information, and therefore should not be treated as telecommunications under the Communications Act, the company said. The FCC should act promptly, because “making a series of fact-based decisions will provide the industry with needed guidance, and thereby encourage ongoing investment in information services like WebEx,” it said. Cisco asked the FCC in May to review USAC’s decision (CD May 20 p6).