The FCC should ‘act swiftly’ to keep the Universal Service Fund (...
The FCC should “act swiftly” to keep the Universal Service Fund (USF) program running after Dec. 31 by redirecting unused funds, 31 House lawmakers wrote in a letter to Chmn. Martin last week. The program will be imperiled by…
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the Dec. 31 expiration of its exemption from Antideficiency Act (ADA) accounting rules. ADA rules bar agency spending unless cash is in hand, a hobble for the USF program. A Commerce-State-Justice appropriations bill that includes a permanent exemption from ADA rules for the USF E- rate program has been deferred to the next Congress. House lawmakers told the FCC they will keep working toward a “more lasting solution to protect consumers from disruptions to USF programs and increased USF phone bill charges.” In the short run, the FCC should direct USAC to apply unused money to 2007 commitments while remaining ADA-compliant, they said.