More than 70 percent of Americans polled back capping the high-cost portion of the Universal Service Fund, and 62 percent oppose using USF subsidies to widen broadband access in rural areas, said Cap the Fund, a group opposing more USF spending. “This program requires us to trust the government not to throw money to services that could be better provided by non-subsidized companies,” said Mac Haddow of the Seniors Coalition, a Cap the Fund member.
An FCC vote on whether to cap universal service subsidies to competitive rural telecom companies “hopefully” will occur in the “very, very near future,” FCC Commissioner Deborah Tate said Monday at a conference on Universal Service Fund reform. Asked to specify the timing, Tate said only FCC Chairman Kevin Martin can answer more definitively. She co- chairs the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, which earlier this year recommended the interim cap to the FCC. Tate said she’s still pushing for a Nov. 1 deadline for the Joint Board to make another recommendation to the FCC on longer-term changes in the USF.
The House today (Wednesday) is set to debate an appropriations bill (HR-2829) that would give the FCC $2 million to design a program explaining the shift from analog to digital TV. The FCC originally sought $1.5 million, but the Financial Services Subcommittee upped the sum out of concern about “low” public awareness about the transition. The overall bill could face a veto, since it contains provisions dealing with pay raises for members of Congress.
House Telecom Subcommittee Chmn. Markey (D-Mass.) is waging an effective oversight campaign over the FCC, NTIA and DTV transition issues, according to interviews with industry sources and analysts. Markey presides today (Tues.) over a 4th hearing on broadband, examining how the U.S. policy compares with those of other countries. Controversy is likely given new rankings that show that the U.S. slipping even further behind in broadband deployment.
The Senate shut down for Aug. recess early Fri. without passing the telecom bill (HR-5252), despite Commerce Committee Chmn. Stevens’ (R-Alaska) week-long drive to round up the 60 votes needed to avoid a filibuster. On Tues. Steven was somewhat optimistic, he told reporters after the Republican policy lunch. “I think I've got them, but I'm not sure yet.”
The Senate shut down for Aug. recess early Fri. without passing the telecom bill (HR-5252), despite Commerce Committee Chmn. Stevens’ (R-Alaska) week-long drive to round up the 60 votes needed to avoid a filibuster. On Tues. Steven was somewhat optimistic, he told reporters after the Republican policy lunch. “I think I've got them, but I'm not sure yet.”
Close votes on key amendments dealing with net neutrality and buildout requirements signal a tough fight ahead on the Senate floor for the Senate telecom bill (HR- 5252), lobbyists and industry sources said. Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. Stevens (R-Alaska) has acknowledged the difficulty he faces and said at the end of Wed.’s markup that he’s considering introducing a slimmed-down bill.
Senate Commerce Committee negotiations on a hefty manager’s amendment to pending telecom reform legislation were expected to continue “well into the night and tomorrow,” a committee spokesman told us Wed. The committee is scheduled to markup Chmn. Stevens’ (R-Alaska) 3rd draft of the bill today (Thurs.). Some Hill watchers said the marathon meeting could spill into next week. The broad draft contains hot topics like net neutrality and preemption of state wireless regulation (CD June 21 p1), as well as issues like video franchising and Universal Service Fund (USF) reform.
Senate Commerce Committee negotiations on a hefty manager’s amendment to pending telecom reform legislation were expected to continue “well into the night and tomorrow,” a committee spokesman told us Wed. The committee is scheduled to markup Chmn. Stevens’ (R-Alaska) 3rd draft of the bill today (Thurs.). Some Hill watchers said the marathon meeting could spill into next week. The broad draft contains hot topics like net neutrality and preemption of state wireless regulation, as well as issues like video franchising and Universal Service Fund (USF) reform.
Decades of the Universal Service Fund contributed to 98% of U.S. households having phone service. This includes 88% of low-income households. But that feat hasn’t come cheaply, especially with the addition of the costly E-rate program that connects schools and libraries to the Internet. During 1998-2005, the USF spent $37.8 billion, according to the National Regulatory Research Institute, which pegs fiscal 2006 USF outlays at $7.3 billion. In fiscal 2006, requests for school and library funding alone will total $3.55 billion to be disbursed among 39,416 applicants, the Universal Service Administration Co. reported (CD March 22 p11).