Von Mag: Funding USF through Broadband

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

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 Broadband
Reply-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 Mohney
>
> http://www.vonmag.com/webexclusives/ 
> 2005/07/4_Funding_USF_through_Broadband.htm
>
> Representatives of Rural America are rallying behind the idea of  
> taxing
> broadband 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  
> who
> uses 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 disadvantaged
> municipalities can successfully argue that ILECs have failed to  
> provide
> affordable and timely access to broadband services.
>
> Rural legislators have always had a soft spot for USF regardless of
> party affiliation and the June 28th letter wasn't the first and  
> won't be
> the 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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