The universal service fund should be expanded to cover broadband services, members on both sides of the aisle said in a House Telecom Subcommittee hearing Tuesday. Differences emerged over how to revamp the program, with Democrats supporting extension of the fund for broadband deployment, an idea not wholly endorsed by Republicans. The hearing reflected a sense of increased urgency about the need for change and a growing consensus that support for broadband services should be part of reform discussions, said members, industry sources and Hill staffers. Passage of legislation is unlikely in the 110th Congress, but proposed legislation and further hearings are building a record for action in the next Congress, where an anticipated increase of Democrats likely will drive momentum for making broadband deployment a national priority, according to interviews with staff and industry. “Congress, not the FCC, is better suited to make the tough political choices on how best to reform the system,” said House Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell of Michigan, indicating the lead role Congress is likely to play in coming months to revamp the program. Another hearing is likely next fall examining specific problems with the program, including focus on mismanagement that in the past has caused significant waste of taxpayer money, Hill sources said. The high error payment rate in the schools and libraries E-rate fund needs congressional attention, said Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., subcommittee ranking member. Stearns co-sponsored a USF reform bill with Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, that was introduced Tuesday and reflects concern over management of the fund. The bill includes provisions that would mandate economic analysis of decisions and how they comply with the Communications Act. The bill also would require a review of the financial interests of any newly appointed member of the joint board that oversees the fund with the goal of preventing any conflicts of interest. Universal service could be a tool for increasing broadband, Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey of Massachusetts said. “Any overarching policy blueprint for universal broadband will, by necessity include universal service as a component.” “I think the universal service program needs to be blown up like the Death Star,” said Rep. Michael Doyle, D-Pa., in one of many references to witness and film maker George Lucas, who runs an education foundation and urged Congress to continue supporting subsidies for broadband for schools.
The universal service fund should be expanded to cover broadband services, members on both sides of the aisle said in a House Telecom Subcommittee hearing Tuesday. Members agreed the fund needs a substantial overhaul, a view backed by witnesses advocating help for low-income consumers in rural areas and urging further USF support for schools. Differences emerged over how to revamp the program, with Democrats supporting extension of the fund for broadband deployment, an idea not wholly endorsed by Republicans.
APCO called for reforms in the structure of the public safety spectrum trust (PSST) and the public safety broadband licensee (PSBL), which it would manage, in an FCC filing on the future of the 700 MHz D-block. APCO advocated limits on PSBL funding, greater transparency at PSST meetings and changes to the composition of the PSST board of directors. The remarks represent the first major public break between APCO and the PSST, sources said Monday. The FCC is examining revised rules for the D-block after no company purchased the spectrum in the first 700 MHz auction.
Verizon will be busy in the second half of 2008 bidding for projects under the federal Networx Universal communications program, as the carrier seeks continued growth in its federal business. Speaking at a media event Monday, the company announced plans to bid for the U.S. General Services Administration projects, saying it already has won a $16.4 million Networx contract with U.S. Postal Service. Company executives also addressed uncertainties surrounding the D-block reauction.
Brent Olson, AT&T assistant vice president of public policy, emerging services and technologies, joins Family Online Safety Institute as board chairman… TIA President Grant Seiffert joins Connected Nation board.
Brent Olson, AT&T assistant vice president of public policy, emerging services and technologies, joins Family Online Safety Institute as board chairman… TIA President Grant Seiffert joins Connected Nation board.
The Senate late Monday approved by unanimous consent a revised version of a bill that gives VoIP providers the same rights of interconnection to 911 services as traditional phone service providers. The bill was worked out by House and Senate staff in an informal conference after both chambers passed different versions of legislation over the last year, industry sources said Tuesday. The House is expected to pass the bill, HR 3403, later this week.
VoIP providers would have the same rights of interconnection to 911 services as traditional phone service providers, under a revised version of a bill the Senate late Monday approved by unanimous consent. The bill was worked out by House and Senate staff in an informal conference after both chambers passed different versions of legislation over the last year, industry sources said Tuesday. The House is expected to pass the bill, HR 3403, later this week. The legislation gives VoIP operators, public safety answering points and vendors comparable protection from liability for 911 calls as is already enjoyed by wireline and wireless providers. It also confirms state authority to impose and collect 911 fees from VoIP and wireless providers and clarifies that ENHANCE 911 Act monies can be used to pay for the “migration to an IP-enabled emergency network” in addition to wireless phase II E-911 upgrades. It requires the National 911 Program Office to produce a report to Congress within 270 days on migration to next-generation 911. “Congress has been working on this important legislation for several years and I am pleased to see that it is finally moving forward,” said Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee. “This measure will ensure that our nation’s 911 laws are up-to-date with new technologies and will continue to save lives.”
The fourth Cabinet level meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue is scheduled to take place on June 17 - 18, 2008 in Annapolis, MD. (Press release, HP-1009, dated 06/04/08, available at http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp1009.htm)
The entrance of Microsoft and Google into the health-records business has complicated an already tricky legal terrain, University of Pennsylvania medical and business faculty members told a Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society conference in Washington Tuesday. Giving patients control over their records “raises a lot of questions with few answers,” said Arnold Rosoff, Wharton School professor of legal studies and business ethics. Their pessimism about the implementation of personal health records (PHRs) contrasted with the can- do spirit of legislators pushing health information technology legislation in a related press conference. (See separate report in this issue.)