Universal Service Fund necessary for rural connectivity

UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND NECESSARY FOR RURAL CONNECTIVITY
[SOURCE: The Hill, AUTHOR: Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.)]
[Commentary] The nationwide rollout of broadband is one of those campaign promises that we still have failed to act on. Most disappointing is that this issue, unlike many before the Congress, has bipartisan support and can pass both chambers to be sent to the president’s desk. Unfortunately, Congress still spends its time on issues that only divide and give Americans an even lower opinion of the work that is done in Washington. Our current policy to ensure that Americans have access to the highest quality telecommunications is broken and in desperate need of repair. As elected officials we have the responsibility to make sure that all of our constituents are given every tool necessary to participate and succeed in the 21st century global economy. The Universal Service Fund is central to the goal of delivering accessible and affordable telecommunications to rural areas. Specifically, USF is the public policy that will deliver broadband to rural America, if Congress will agree to reform and improve the fund in order to allow telecommunication providers the ability to use money they are currently receiving to deploy broadband networks. The failure to act on Universal Service Fund reform will result in millions of Americans losing access to telecommunication services including broadband. I continue to be optimistic that Congress will work to enact H.R. 2054, The Universal Service Reform Act of 2007. However, I see it as complementary to regulators’ continued efforts to be fiscally responsible through specific policies.
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