House USF Strategy Seen As Risky

HOUSE USF STRATEGY SEEN AS RISKY
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
Apparently House Commerce Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) is considering the politically risky idea of entering into a House-Senate conference on telecommunications legislation without his own language on the Universal Service Fund. Reps Lee Terry (R-NE) and Rick Boucher (D-VA) are trying to convince Chairman Barton to endorse their legislation to strengthen and expand the $7.1 billion USF. The subsidy program reduces telecom costs for citizens, schools and libraries in rural and low-income areas. A communications bill being crafted by Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) is certain to include USF provisions, but Rep Barton may punt on the issue because he opposes the fund in principle. The approach is a gamble, some observers said, because Rep Barton would be locked into negotiating over Sen Stevens' language in conference. But others see the strategy as a shrewd tactical move. By not taking a stance on universal service, they said Barton would increase the likelihood of the matter being dropped in conference. Or Barton could be setting the stage for horse-trading, perhaps accepting a modified version of Stevens' USF language in exchange for House provisions on video franchising.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-DXNH1145537344899.html