Senators Call On FCC To Fix USF Disparities

Sens Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Bill Nelson (D-FL), and John Kerry (D-A), chairman of the Senate Commerce Communications Subcommittee, are urging the Federal Communications Commission to address disparities in contributions between their states and others as part of the agency's overhaul of the Universal Service Fund, which subsidizes telecommunications service in rural and high-cost areas.

They argue that on average their states pay much more into the fund than they receive back. New Jersey had the biggest disparity of the three states, paying an average of $4.68 into the fund for every dollar they get back. "Although we support the concept of universal service and recognize the importance of universal access to broadband for all Americans, the USF desperately needs to be changed to address the numerous inequities and inefficiencies in its current administration," the lawmakers wrote.