Public Service Commission seeking comments on Internet service

JEFFERSON CITY--The Missouri Public Service Commission is seeking comments from the general public and telecommunications companies on the possible creation of a Missouri Universal Service high-cost fund.

A high-cost fund would be used to assist phone companies in building infrastructure to provide telecommunications services to customers in areas of the state that are costly to serve. Funding would likely be through a surcharge placed on customer bills.

In July 2013, the Commission opened a working case based upon a recommendation from the public service commission staff to receive information from interested stakeholders and the general public regarding the Missouri Lifeline Program and Missouri Universal Service Fund. In December, the Commission directed the PSC staff to investigate the possibility of expanding the scope of the current Missouri Universal Service Fund by implementing a state high-cost fund.

On Jan. 10, the PSC staff filed a motion asking the commission to assist it in its investigation by offering the general public and telecommunications companies an opportunity to respond to a number of questions about the need for a Universal Service Fund high-cost program as well as the structure and funding for such a program.

The commission is inviting the public and telecommunications companies to comment on the questions and to provide information to the commission no later than Feb. 14, 2014.

The public is welcome to submit comments by forwarding electronic communications through the Public Service Commission's Electronic Filing and Information System or by mailing written comments to the commission,

Comments may be submit electroniclly at the commission's website, http://www.psc.mo.gov. Once at the website, click on the EFIS/Case filings link on the left side of the page. Scroll down and click on the public comment link. Please refer to File No. TW-2014-0012.

Written comments in hard copy should be addressed to the Missouri Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Please refer to File No. TW-2014-0012.