June 12th, 2007
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Vice Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today called for the reform of the Universal Service Fund during a Commerce Committee hearing to assess recent recommendations made by the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service. The hearing focused on a proposed cap on wireless universal service support, which would be implemented for at least 18 months.
“The importance of a unified and national communications infrastructure remains paramount and universal service is needed to ensure the availability of communications services throughout the country,” said Senator Stevens. “To put off comprehensive universal service reform risks a communications divide in this country. This would be a shameful outcome which would hurt jobs and small businesses throughout rural America, including my home state of Alaska.”
Earlier this year, Senator Stevens introduced the Universal Service for Americans Act (USA). This bill (S. 101), expands the list of communications providers that will contribute to the Universal Service Fund. Under current law, long distance companies pay the bulk of the costs incurred by the Fund. In addition to updating universal service, S. 101 includes measures to ensure the long-term integrity of the program with improved auditing requirements.
“Members of this Committee raised a number of important questions at the hearing, including whether an interim cap is the best choice. I look forward to working with Chairman Inouye, the Committee Members, and our House colleagues to address universal service reform in a comprehensive manner,” said Senator Stevens.