[IP] Von Mag: Funding USF through Broadband
Begin forwarded message:
From: "John K. Friedman" <john@xxxxxxxxxx>
Date: July 6, 2005 8:18:05 AM EDT
To: CYBERTELECOM-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Von Mag: Funding USF through Broadband
Reply-To: Telecom Regulation & the Internet <CYBERTELECOM-
L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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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John Friedman
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