Several senators wrote to the Federal-State Joint Board on Univer...

Alaska Regulatory Comr. Nanette Thompson, state chmn., the senators argued that limiting USF to the primary line would deny rural consumers equal access to telecom services. The letter was signed by Senate Communications Subcommittee Chmn. Burns (R-Mont.), Senate Minority Leader Daschle (D-S.D.) and Sens. Dorgan (D-N.D.), Johnson (D-S.D.), Baucus (D-Mont.), Snowe (R-Me.), and Lincoln (D-Ark.). It said a primary line restriction would force rural customers to pay “exorbitant rates” for 2nd phone lines or wireless service. It said the Joint Board was considering imposing the primary line restriction, but hadn’t made any formal recommendations at this point. “Rural consumers want and need affordable multiple connections -- often from multiple providers -- just as much as consumers in urban areas,” the letter said. “The fact is that there is nothing reasonable or comparable about denying rural people access to 2nd lines or cellphones.” A primary line restriction would limit rural carriers’ ability to service debt on facilities approved by regulators and built, the senators wrote. They said small business could be badly hurt, since many needed more than one line. “We understand your concerns about the size of the program, but disagree with the need to take this drastic step of limiting support to a primary line,” the letter said.