Funding for rural wireless faces threat

FUNDING FOR RURAL WIRELESS FACES THREAT
[SOURCE: Lincoln Journal Star, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] The Federal Communication Commission has proposed capping the amount of subsidies paid to improve cell phone systems in rural parts of the United States. Cell phone companies are battling the proposal, but they face a powerful and entrenched foe in the landline companies who fear future cuts in the subsidies that they have been receiving for years. The cap could be particularly detrimental to Nebraska, which only recently has begun to receive federal subsidies to improve cell phone service, and because state officials so far continue to funnel all state subsidies to landline systems even though the state collects millions of dollars from cell phone customers. It seems reasonable to allow cell phone companies to finally get a more equitable share of the subsidy while Congress works on reform. Nebraskans would appreciate fewer dropped calls when they roam across the wide open spaces of their state.
http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2007/05/21/opinion/editorial/doc464f5ca66aa55094756577.txt