Cramer Calls for FCC Reform of Universal Service Fund

Press Release

Today, Congressman Kevin Cramer submitted a bi-partisan letter signed by 115 Members of Congress to the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging the FCC to move forward on reforms to the Universal Service Fund (USF) to ensure consumers in areas served by small, rate-of-return providers have the same choice among reasonably comparable telecom services at reasonably comparable rates available to consumers in urban areas. Under current rules, when a customer buys traditional voice services (with or without broadband services) from a rural telephone company, the company is eligible for USF support. However, if a customer "cuts the cord" of traditional phone service in favor of wireless or Internet-based phone services, rural communities served by smaller telecommunication providers lose access to USF broadband support.

If the FCC fails to act, this policy will lead to less support and less choice for rural customers. This can cause problems since our nation's universal service policy is to increase broadband usage and deployment in rural areas. This lack of USF support disregards consumer preference and runs counter to the FCC's own National Broadband Plan, whose stated goal is promoting the use and growth of broadband networks in rural America.

"I thank my colleagues for signing this letter and urging the FCC to reform the USF. This debate is about more than money. It is about ensuring students, teachers, doctors, small business owners, farmers and parents have access to the same technology as consumers in urban areas. The FCC needs to update its rules and regulations to reflect the rapidly changing telecommunications environment. Living in rural America presents numerous challenges already but these reforms ensure access to high quality, affordable communication technology is not one of them," said Cramer.

"Members of the independent telecommunications companies in North Dakota are very appreciative of Congressman Cramer and other co-signers of the letter to Chairman Wheeler and the other members of the Federal Communications Commission. Many of the issues addressed in the letter are long overdue for action by the agency, but there also must be recognition through action by the FCC that rural Americans lead a lifestyle that whose foundation rests upon access to state of the art affordable broadband. Congressman Cramer recognizes the difficulties rural residents face being able to fully use the educational, health and economic advantages broadband affords if the FCC does not make the right decisions quickly. The North Dakota Association of Telecommunications Cooperatives applauds Mr. Cramer for taking the initiative to make sure that rural America is not left behind," said David Crothers, Executive Vice President, North Dakota Association of Telecommunications Cooperatives.

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