Interesting People mailing list archives
Von Mag: Funding USF through Broadband
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2005 10:03:52 -0400
Begin forwarded message: From: "John K. Friedman" <john () JKFLAW COM> Date: July 6, 2005 8:18:05 AM EDT To: CYBERTELECOM-L () LISTSERV AOL COM Subject: Re: Von Mag: Funding USF through BroadbandReply-To: Telecom Regulation & the Internet <CYBERTELECOM- L () LISTSERV AOL COM>
This would simply allow those who've opted out of the PSTN -- using cable modem service, particularly w/ VoIP riding on it -- to be gouged by the ILECs indirectly. How's this for a title of the proposed bill: "The Rural LEC and Qwest Revenue Assurance Act?" Frank Coluccio wrote:
Funding USF through Broadband 07.04.05 | Doug Mohneyhttp://www.vonmag.com/webexclusives/ 2005/07/4_Funding_USF_through_Broadband.htmRepresentatives of Rural America are rallying behind the idea of taxingbroadband customers to support the Universal Service Fund (USF),according to a report from News.com A group of 62 Congressmen submitted a letter to the U.S. House of Energy and Commerce Committee on June 28th calling for the base of USF contributors to be expanded to everyone whouses the infrastructure including "all providers of two-way communications, regardless of technology used, to insure competitive neutrality." Wireless carriers are happy about the proposed change since they feel wireless consumers already pay too much into USF and intercarrier compensation systems. Free market think tanks are skeptical about more funding for USF, claiming that broadband access is getting cheaper and more widely available, but rural and economically disadvantagedmunicipalities can successfully argue that ILECs have failed to provideaffordable and timely access to broadband services. Rural legislators have always had a soft spot for USF regardless ofparty affiliation and the June 28th letter wasn't the first and won't bethe last time that they continue to lobby for clear and unambiguous support of telecommunications subsidies to underserved areas of the country. ------ Frank
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- Von Mag: Funding USF through Broadband David Farber (Jul 06)