Boucher Forging Ahead on Universal Service
Even though the FCC says it can revamp the multi-billion dollar universal service fund on its own -- and without the need for congressional action -- a key House lawmaker is forging ahead with USF legislation anyway. Either way, the fund, which now subsidizes mostly traditional phone costs in low-income and rural areas, would be redirected toward supporting broadband deployment and adoption.
Following a House Energy and Commerce Committee markup Wednesday on unrelated legislation, Communications Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher, D-Va., said he hopes to mark up his draft universal service legislation this month. When asked whether his measure conflicts with the FCC's approach, he said both have the same goal: to transition the fund to support broadband Internet access. He added, however, that they differ on some details.
Boucher and Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., released a draft of their bill in November that would expand the base of corporate contributors to the federal fund, cap its size and widen its mission to encompass broadband. Boucher said Wednesday that he has spent many hours "trying to finalize it," but couldn't say when he would have a final draft.
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