Republicans Introduce Bicameral PSC Oversight Act
Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., introduced the Preserving State Commission Oversight Act Thursday, which would tweak statute by “mandating a continuing role for States in designating eligible telecommunications carriers for participation in the Universal Service program.”…
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The lawmakers posted the bill text and framed it as an oversight change for the Lifeline program. “In a program where waste and fraud have run rampant for years, removing the ability of states to police companies participating in the Lifeline program can only lead to further misuse of public funds,” said Cramer, a former public utility commissioner, in a statement. “The FCC doesn’t have the authority, the manpower, or the local knowledge to police the entire program at a national level. That’s why the states are so important in maintaining the integrity of this program.” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has come under fire from Capitol Hill Democrats for revoking certification of nine Lifeline broadband providers recently. House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., led the latest letter of protest on the topic, also signed by Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and former subcommittee ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. “The reasons given for taking these actions do not seem to justify the extreme results,” said these House Democrats. “While the order states that the revocations are necessary to prevent further waste, fraud, and abuse, the order does not explain how its actions will accomplish those goals. Furthermore, since the Order raised many novel policy questions regarding the Commission’s current efforts to safeguard the integrity of the Lifeline program, we find it troubling that the Chairman would insist on pursuing the same course he has so often criticized his predecessors for: an improper exercise of the FCC’s delegated authority and a refusal to permit the full Commission from voting on an item that poses new questions of law and policy.” An FCC spokesman declined comment on this letter and had defended Pai’s actions last week (see 1702100047).