30 Senators Ask Pai to Discard USF Overall Cap Plans
A proposal to place an overall spending cap on USF programs "is a direct assault on the FCC's mission of bridging the digital divide," said 30 senators in a letter Thursday to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. Led by Sen. Ed…
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Markey, D-Mass., the letter asks Pai to "discard any plans for setting an overall cap" for USF programs, saying it "would harm broadband deployment, rural health care opportunities, classroom learning, and life-long learning through public libraries by forcing them to compete" for necessary funds. Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition Executive Director John Windhausen responded that Congress designed the four USF programs "to work in tandem" to address different aspects of the digital divide. The FCC proposal to cap overall USF spending faces opposition (see 1906030059). The agency didn't comment right away. All signing on to the letter were Democrats, except Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., a Democratic presidential hopeful who caucuses with the Democrats. Five other hopefuls for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination also signed: Michael Bennet, Colo.; Cory Booker, N.J.; Kamala Harris, Calif.; Amy Klobuchar, Minn.; and Elizabeth Warren, Mass.