Hutchison Statement on Universal Service Fund Proposal

Washington, DC - Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following statement regarding the Universal Service Fund (USF) reform proposal submitted by a number of telecommunications providers today:

“The Universal Service Fund and the intercarrier compensation regime are both in serious need of reform, but such reform must be done in a thoughtful manner that does not cause excessive disruption to the market.  Changes to USF are necessary to eliminate waste, to put it on sound economic footing, and to help bring broadband to those communities that do not have access today.  I am pleased to see such a diverse group of small and large telecommunications providers working together to find consensus, which is no small feat on this complex and difficult issue.  I urge the FCC to continue the momentum generated by this proposal and to keep our nation’s rural communities in mind as it moves forward with the reform process.” 

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