Report on the Implementation of the New High Cost Program for Non-Rural Companies. Mr. Haga gave an overview of the status of implementation of the model. He added that since the writing of the agenda paper, USAC has hired a consultant, David Rolka, former Commissioner of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, to help set up procedures and personnel for implementing the model. Low Income Program Status Report. Mr. Haga reported that the dollars for the Low Income fund are as projected at the quarterly meeting in October 1999.
Staff continues to work on ways to get the other carriers involved.
Report on Low Income Process Change. Mr. Haga reminded the Committee that this process change is a result of a request from the Committee to cut programmatic costs for this Program by having USAC true-up previously reported reimbursement requests on a quarterly basis rather than on a monthly basis. Staff has not received any complaints or had any problems with this process change. Disaggregation of Federal High Cost Support in Washington State. Mr. Haga explained that this issue has been set aside for now due to the fact that no competitive eligible telecommunications carriers providing service in incumbent rural telephone company serving areas in Washington state has requested support for 2000, and since the terms of the waiver only applied to rural service areas, this issue is moot for 2000.