Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service

In this document, the Commission reconsiders, on its own motion, the definition of "affiliate" adopted in the recent report and order and second further notice of proposed rulemaking modifying rules regarding the assessment and recovery of contributions to the Federal universal service mechanisms. Specifically, the Commission concludes that wireless telecommunications providers are affiliated for purposes of making the single election whether to report actual interstate telecommunications revenues or use the applicable interim wireless safe harbor if one entity directly or indirectly controls or has the power to control another, is directly or indirectly controlled by another, is directly or indirectly controlled by a third party or parties that also controls or has the power to control another, or has an "identity of interest" with another contributor. The Commission also clarifies options for the recovery of universal service contribution costs by wireless telecommunications providers that choose to report actual interstate telecommunications revenues based on a company-specific traffic study.