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BROADBAND UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND
Committee on Communications, Technology & Interstate Commerce
WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States is considering a re-write of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996, it is imperative that the National Conference of State Legislatures express its deep concern for equitable treatment for the rural areas of our respective states; and,
WHEREAS, rural America provides the food and fiber for urban America, we must avoid the risk of leaving rural America behind when it comes to broadband communication technology; and,
WHEREAS, the economic well-being of these United States depends upon Universal Service to all citizens at comparable cost/benefit;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Conference of State Legislatures expresses to the Federal Communications Commission, the Congress of the United States and to the President of the United States the following:
- Simplify the settlement process for facilities based broadband telecommunications carriers by consolidating all components of a call / data stream into transport for settlement purposes.
- Include broadband investments by carriers with open network architecture to be eligible for Universal Service Fund (USF) cost recovery.
- Access to USF must be based upon the actual investment of a carrier and not upon the cost of a competing carrier or upon a pseudo formula.
- To cover the anticipated increased demand for USF funds, contributions to the Broadband USF must be spread over all parties using the broadband network (end-users, ISP’s VOIP providers and telecommunications-like entities).
Adopted by the Committee on Communications, Technology & Interstate Commerce on Friday, April 7, 2006.
Adopted at the NCSL General Business Meeting, Saturday, April 8, 2006.
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