NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, applauded the introduction of the Lowering Broadband Costs for Consumers Act on Friday. Introduced by Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), the legislation directs the FCC to require broadband service providers and large edge providers to contribute to the Universal Service Fund.
NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield says the bill would promote more predictable and stable funding to preserve and advance the statutory mission of universal service. “As traditional telecommunications revenues decline, the assessment on the remaining consumers of such services increases, resulting in a disproportionate burden on those consumers even though they are not the most significant users of services or beneficiaries of underlying networks.”
Continuing, Bloomfield said, “Common-sense reforms like those directed by this legislation will shore up the foundation of universal service funding, spread contribution obligations more equitably among all of those that use and benefit from broadband networks, and ultimately help the low-income and rural consumers and schools, libraries, and rural health care facilities that depend on critical universal service programs.”
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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