Recent Developments The Federal Communications Commission Approves Anti-'Slamming' Measures In a measure aimed at reducing "slamming" or the unauthorized switching of a customer's preferred interexchange carrier, the FCC adopted rules on July 21, 2000 allowing telecom customers to switch their preferred IXC carrier using Internet "letters of agency." The new rules implement a congressional mandate contained in the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, which was signed into law June 30, 2000, which seeks to establish a framework for conducting Internet transactions, most specifically the acceptance of LOAs. This recent order addresses "soft slamming," the unauthorized switching of a customer's preferred carrier to that of a reseller using the same underlying carrier identification code (CIC). Resellers will now be able to obtain their own CIC codes without purchasing Feature Group D technology from wholesalers. However, the FCC did not go as far as to require telecom resellers to obtain their own CICs, although this remains a possibility for future regulation. Lastly, the FCC instituted new reporting requirements for carriers. Carriers must now submit to the Enforcement Bureau a biannual report on the number of slamming complaints received. Oregon Universal Service Surcharge Notification The obligation of all Oregon telecommunications carriers to contribute to the Oregon Universal Services (OUS) fund commences September 1, 2000. The obligation to contribute to the fund is based on retail telecommunications revenues received on or after September 1, 2000. Carriers may choose or not choose to bill an end user surcharge. The first collection of OUS contributions from telecommunications carriers will not take place until February 28, 2001. To start this new program, the Oregon PUC requests advance information on all telecommunication providers. Each company should complete a confidential identification worksheet and revenue worksheet. These worksheets are available on the PUC internet website at www.puc.state.or.us .