Experts were divided on what kind of impact a government...
Experts were divided on what kind of impact a government shutdown would have on the pending universal service and intercarrier compensation regime reforms. House Republican leaders have promised to avoid a shutdown after a continuing resolution was surprisingly defeated Wednesday.…
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But the threat of a shutdown was enough to make some wonder whether it would keep the FCC from acting on universal service by October’s meeting. “It definitely puts the timetable at risk,” Aspen Institute’s Blair Levin said of a potential shutdown. “The debate is literally just starting. Universal service, the details matter so much.” Public Knowledge Legal Director Harold Feld said the impact might be “a wash.” He told us in an email: “The short answer is: I think delay works to the advantage of those trying to mobilize opposition to the ABC plan. On the other hand, if there is a shut down for any extended period, it will make it very hard to get members of Congress (who are the chief point of leverage at this point) engaged on this issue.” But MF Global analyst Paul Gallant said he didn’t think a shutdown would affect anyone’s lobbying position. “A shutdown might push back a final FCC vote, but I doubt it would prevent the Commission from getting to USF this fall,” he said: “There’s just been too much invested by too many parties to get to this point.”