Ariz. Commission Posts NOI on State USF Revamp

The Arizona Corporation Commission is seeking state USF comments by March 18 on possibly sweeping changes, including expanding support to broadband, the agency said in a Friday notice of inquiry. Arizona commissioners required staff to open the rulemaking in January in docket T-00000A-20-0336 (see 2201120035). The NOI asks questions including what the original purpose of AUSF was, if it still furthers that goal and what else could it be used for. The commission asked if AUSF policy objectives are "technology agnostic and living/evolving" or "static and tied to" landlines, and if those objectives should be updated. Specifically, it asked if the commission should consider repurposing the fund "to include 'advanced telecommunications capacity' or funding to help remove 'barriers to infrastructure investment'?" The agency asked if it should consider expanding AUSF contribution to VoIP, internet or broadband providers, and if an entity should have to contribute to AUSF to receive support. It asked if the commission should expand support to non-telcos including nonprofits, state agencies and local and tribal governments, and if it should expand allowed support uses. The commission asked if it can -- or should -- eliminate state USF or the charge on customer bills. And it asked how coming federal funding should affect its decisions.