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AT&T is “heartened” the FCC is finally moving forward on a comprehensive overhaul of the Universal Service Fund, Senior Vice President Bob Quinn said Thursday. The company is “disappointed” that the commission has put off the contribution piece but is “going to be very, very supportive of what the FCC is doing here,” he told reporters Thursday on a conference call. House Republicans have their own designs on universal service. Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., continues to press ahead with a bill on USF, a senior aide told us. Terry has had early talks on a USF revamp with Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., and Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., the staffer said. The committee leaders’ emphasis early this session is on FCC oversight, and they haven’t worked out a date for a USF hearing, the aide said. A USF overhaul was one of the “key issues” listed in a committee staff memo circulated this month. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., this month called revamping USF a priority, but he has previously urged the commission to lead the effort.

The House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet will have “some great issues that we're going to debate and reshape,” said ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. “My number one goal is to grow that sector,” she said at a TechAmerica event at the U.S. Capitol. The opportunity and high value that technology industries offer “are all ingredients that are attractive to Republicans, Democrats, Independents” and others, Eshoo said. The country needs a tax overhaul “that paves the way for the private sector to innovate,” TechAmerica President Phil Bond said. “Our future and prosperity depend upon a thriving and trustworthy Internet,” which isn’t growing as fast as it could, or with enough user confidence, he said. To promote consumer confidence, “a privacy regime should provide consumers with choice and reasonable control” of their data. Bond also backed a “prudent reallocation of spectrum,” a Universal Service Fund overhaul and federal requirements for handling data breaches.

The House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet will have “some great issues that we're going to debate and reshape,” said ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. “My number one goal is to grow that sector,” she said at a TechAmerica event at the U.S. Capitol. The opportunity and high value that technology industries offer “are all ingredients that are attractive to Republicans, Democrats, Independents” and others, Eshoo said. The country needs a tax overhaul “that paves the way for the private sector to innovate,” TechAmerica President Phil Bond said. “Our future and prosperity depend upon a thriving and trustworthy Internet,” which isn’t growing as fast as it could, or with enough user confidence, he said. To promote consumer confidence, “a privacy regime should provide consumers with choice and reasonable control” of their data. Bond also backed a “prudent reallocation of spectrum,” a Universal Service Fund overhaul and federal requirements for handling data breaches.

President Barack Obama set a goal of getting wireless broadband to 98 percent of Americans by 2016. In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, he emphasized the importance of building infrastructure and promoting innovation. Obama’s remarks picked up on many themes in the National Broadband Plan that the FCC sent Congress in March 2010.

President Barack Obama set a goal of getting wireless broadband to 98 percent of Americans by 2016. In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, he emphasized the importance of building infrastructure and promoting innovation. Obama’s remarks picked up on many themes in the National Broadband Plan that the FCC sent Congress in March 2010.

Michigan Internet businessman Jeremy Sheets pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a federal investigation into the E-rate program, as part of a deal with federal prosecutors, the Department of Justice said. He admitted that he gave illegal “donations” to at least one Michigan school district to cover its E-rate expenses and created phony records to make it seem as if the school district had in fact spent its own money on E-rate. He and undisclosed school system officials also used E-rate funds on items that were not allowed by law. Sheets admitted he sent a fraudulent e-mail to Universal Service Administrative Company officials and that he shredded or destroyed records when he was served with subpoenas, court records show. He could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison, but prosecutors agreed to seek a shorter sentence, records show. Sheets will also have to pay nearly $116,000 in restitution to USAC.

Michigan Internet businessman Jeremy Sheets pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a federal investigation into the E-rate program, as part of a deal with federal prosecutors, the Department of Justice said. He admitted that he gave illegal “donations” to at least one Michigan school district to cover its E-rate expenses and created phony records to make it seem as if the school district had in fact spent its own money on E-rate. He and undisclosed school system officials also used E-rate funds on items that were not allowed by law. Sheets admitted he sent a fraudulent e-mail to Universal Service Administrative Company officials and that he shredded or destroyed records when he was served with subpoenas, court records show. He could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison, but prosecutors agreed to seek a shorter sentence, records show. Sheets will also have to pay nearly $116,000 in restitution to USAC.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., wants tougher net neutrality rules for ISPs. On Tuesday she introduced legislation with Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., to create a new section in Title II of the Communications Act to codify the FCC’s six net neutrality principles. The bill would apply equally to wireline and wireless providers. Public interest groups that thought the FCC didn’t go far enough in its order said they supported the Cantwell measure.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., wants tougher net neutrality rules for ISPs. On Tuesday she introduced legislation with Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., to create a new section in Title II of the Communications Act to codify the FCC’s six net neutrality principles. The bill would apply equally to wireline and wireless providers. Public interest groups that thought the FCC didn’t go far enough in its order said they supported the Cantwell measure.