If there’s to be a universal service fund (USF) summit, then indu...
If there’s to be a universal service fund (USF) summit, then industry groups should be included, several rural telephone associations said in a letter to Senate Communications Subcommittee Chmn. Burns (R-Mont.) In an April 2 hearing on USF, Burns…
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suggested a summit involving the FCC, Congress and the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service (CD April 3 p1). In the letter, dated April 15, the groups said industry also should be part of any meeting. The letter was signed by the Independent Telephone & Telecom Alliance, National Rural Telecom Assn., NTCA, OPASTCO and Western Alliance. “We believe it would be important to have industry representation at such a summit, which would speed the effort of identifying the best possible solution for ensuring the future of the program,” the letter said. In the hearing, Burns had expressed concerns about the length of time needed for the FCC to review USF. He suggested a summit as a method in which vested parties could discuss the issue and determine where potential legislation might be needed.