Some $180 million that Puerto Rico receives in funding assigned annually through the Federal Communications Commission could be at risk due to the methodologies the agency is implementing to phase out the Universal Service Program and usher in its replacement, the Connect America Fund.
Puerto Rico Telephone, which does business as Claro, announced Friday that if the increase in Universal Service Fund charges that the Federal Communications Commission is pushing for is approved, landline and wireless customers will see an increase in their bill starting the first quarter of 2012.