Several telecom groups wrote the Senate Commerce Committee leader...
Several telecom groups wrote the Senate Commerce Committee leadership Wed. to express support for S-241, legislation that would permanently exempt the Universal Service Fund (USF) from Anti-Deficiency Act (ADA) requirements. The Committee has held a hearing on the bill…
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(CD April 12 p1), introduced by Sen. Snowe (R-Me.) and co-sponsored by Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. Stevens (R-Alaska), Committee ranking Democrat Inouye (Hawaii), and Sen. Rockefeller (D-W. Va.). No markup’s scheduled for the bill, and the groups urged quick action in the letter. “Given the potential disruption to all universal service programs, it is vital for the Commerce Committee to address this issue as soon as possible, so that the uncertainty that currently hangs over these programs can be permanently eliminated,” the letter said. Since the Office of Management & Budget (OMB) required the FCC to apply ADA rules to USF last year, the program has needed funds in hand to make disbursement commitment. Congress last year passed a temporary one-year exemption from ADA, since it would have resulted in missed payments from USF and the E-rate program. The letter said: “Without such an exemption, millions of people will undoubtedly experience service disruptions and significant increases in the universal service contribution factor.” Signers of the letter include Alcatel, Apple, Independent Telephone & Telecom Alliance, NARUC, NASUCA, National Education Assn., NTCA, OPASTCO, TIA, U.S. Conference of Mayors and Western Wireless.