Services

We provide solutions to the regulatory and administrative problems associated with telecommunications, electric, natural gas, water & sewer utilities.  We design, implement and administer universal service funds for both federal and state commissions. We verify that private sector clients receive their proper universal service support.  We provide expert testimony before state public utility commissions and prepare comments that are filed in federal agency proceedings.    

Administering Universal Service Funds

We have experience in both the collection and the distribution of state and federal telecommunications universal service programs.  We have developed several customized database applications to complement traditional accounting packages for those purposes.  We are experts on regulatory accounting and record keeping requirements.  Our work has frequently been audited by both internal and independent auditors for generally accepted accounting principles for government entities, as defined by the Government Accounting Standards Board and the Financial Accounting Standard Board.  Never has an adverse finding been reported on our work.  We are located in a secure environment on the upper floors of the M&T Bank building in Harrisonburg PA.  We maintain separate books and records for each of our client accounts and protect confidential information, and we are not affiliated with any regulated utility entity.

Verifying Universal Service Support

Mistakes happen, and the more complex the program, the more likely it is that mistakes will occur, even in an extensively audited environment like the federal government telecommunications support programs.  We help our clients trace which USF support dollars have been received, whether the amounts received correlate with the correct time periods and business locations, and whether line count data have been correctly filed with USAC.  We also verify USAC projections and review electronic remittance statements with projections by program and help our clients resolve any discrepancies with USAC.

Providing Expert Testimony

We have testified on behalf of state attorneys general and consumer advocates before state public utility commissions.  Our testimony has covered rate design, cost of service, incremental cost models, broadband deployment projects, alternative forms of regulation, electric demand forecasting, demand-side management programs, and the status of competition in regulated markets.  We have also provided expert advice to federal government agencies and to foreign governments and advocacy groups.

We can help you with:

• Regulatory interpretations

• Telephone Cost Models

• Economic analysis

• Network Neutrality Issues

• Workshops

• Rate design

• Separations

• Quality assurance

• Expert Testimony

• Regulatory reporting

• Regulatory compliance

• Cost allocations

• Cost of Service analysis

• Regulatory implementation

• Regulatory counseling

• Cost of Service studies (COS studies)

• Data analysis

• Regulatory filings

• Verification that line count data is accurately reflected by USAC

• Identifying discrepancies between projections and disbursement, and track subsequent corrections.

• Fund administration

• Data management

• Previewing USAC projections of support for accuracy, to accelerate the implementation of corrective action.

• Preparation of projections of support for internal budget purposes.

• Certification / Eligibility

• Regulatory comments, & replies

• Support Forecasting / Budgeting

• Disaggregation plans, maps, zones

• Certificates of convenience and necessity (CCN)