Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., lauded FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai’s plan to help provide stand-alone broadband support to rate-of-return carriers (see 1506290039). Pai announced his plans earlier this week, and Cramer was the House lawmaker to lead a letter with scores of his colleagues pressing for such stand-alone support (see 1504210033). “Commissioner Pai’s proposal acknowledges the need for the FCC to adopt common-sense reforms to the Universal Service Fund,” Cramer said Wednesday. “We have seen technology transform the economy of rural America in places like North Dakota. These reforms ensure access to high quality, affordable broadband infrastructure.” A news release from Cramer included an endorsement of Pai’s ideas from North Dakota Association of Telecommunications Cooperatives Executive Vice President David Crothers: “Commissioner Pai's initiative, which closely mirrors a plan advocated by Congressman Cramer, makes it far more likely rural residents will be able to affordably access a telecom infrastructure that can meet their video, data and voice needs.” Cramer’s release said he and Pai met in May to discuss the issue. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., led Pai in a tour of Nebraska this week, she said in her own news release. “I commend Commissioner Pai for laying out a concrete plan of action,” Fischer said in a statement. “We discussed many important issues, including telecommunications policies affecting our broadcasters and the challenges connecting broadband to our cities and our communities across the state. We heard from businesses across Nebraska who want to deploy more broadband but are held back due to regulatory uncertainty. We heard from broadcasters who provide important information across our state regarding the challenges they continue to face.” Pai also spoke of 911 issues at a Nebraska Public Service Commission workshop (see 1506300066).

Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., lauded FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai’s plan to help provide stand-alone broadband support to rate-of-return carriers (see 1506290039). Pai announced his plans earlier this week, and Cramer was the House lawmaker to lead a letter with scores of his colleagues pressing for such stand-alone support (see 1504210033). “Commissioner Pai’s proposal acknowledges the need for the FCC to adopt common-sense reforms to the Universal Service Fund,” Cramer said Wednesday. “We have seen technology transform the economy of rural America in places like North Dakota. These reforms ensure access to high quality, affordable broadband infrastructure.” A news release from Cramer included an endorsement of Pai’s ideas from North Dakota Association of Telecommunications Cooperatives Executive Vice President David Crothers: “Commissioner Pai's initiative, which closely mirrors a plan advocated by Congressman Cramer, makes it far more likely rural residents will be able to affordably access a telecom infrastructure that can meet their video, data and voice needs.” Cramer’s release said he and Pai met in May to discuss the issue. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., led Pai in a tour of Nebraska this week, she said in her own news release. “I commend Commissioner Pai for laying out a concrete plan of action,” Fischer said in a statement. “We discussed many important issues, including telecommunications policies affecting our broadcasters and the challenges connecting broadband to our cities and our communities across the state. We heard from businesses across Nebraska who want to deploy more broadband but are held back due to regulatory uncertainty. We heard from broadcasters who provide important information across our state regarding the challenges they continue to face.” Pai also spoke of 911 issues at a Nebraska Public Service Commission workshop (see 1506300066).

State policymakers must continue to address how to ensure communications services are available and affordable for consumers so industry can adapt and bring everything into the now broadband-focused playing field, USF experts said in interviews Friday. A white paper, released Friday, by Sherry Lichtenberg, National Regulatory Research Institute principal researcher, said state USF support includes high-cost support, funds for broadband access for schools and libraries, funding for Lifeline and dedicated broadband funding. A key finding in the review is the limitation on high-cost support for areas where competition has driven down the cost of service, reducing the need for support, Lichtenberg said.

State policymakers must continue to address how to ensure communications services are available and affordable for consumers so industry can adapt and bring everything into the now broadband-focused playing field, USF experts said in interviews Friday. A white paper, released Friday, by Sherry Lichtenberg, National Regulatory Research Institute principal researcher, said state USF support includes high-cost support, funds for broadband access for schools and libraries, funding for Lifeline and dedicated broadband funding. A key finding in the review is the limitation on high-cost support for areas where competition has driven down the cost of service, reducing the need for support, Lichtenberg said.

The House Appropriations Committee cleared an FCC FY 2016 funding package Wednesday in a partisan 30-20 vote. The package includes several measures Democrats say will stall the net neutrality order, plus a new media provision that would grandfather in existing broadcaster joint sales agreements (JSAs) formed before the FCC limited them last year. Financial Services Subcommittee ranking member Jose Serrano, D-N.Y., dismissed the measure, subject to many White House concerns, as "veto bait." The measure had come under fire for including three telecom policy riders that would prevent the funding of the FCC net neutrality order during pending court challenges; require commission posting of items 21 days before a vote; and prevent commission broadband rate regulation.

Frontier Communications agreed to accept $283.4 million in annual USF support to provide broadband access to more than 650,000 unserved rural locations over the next few years, the company said Tuesday in a news release. Frontier accepted the entire amount it was offered under the FCC Connect America Fund Phase II program, becoming the first price-cap telco to announce its decision. The FCC gave price-cap carriers until Aug. 27 to decide whether to accept CAF Phase II funding, state by state (see 1504290066). Frontier accepted funding for all its 28 states.

Frontier Communications agreed to accept $283.4 million in annual USF support to provide broadband access to more than 650,000 unserved rural locations over the next few years, the company said Tuesday in a news release. Frontier accepted the entire amount it was offered under the FCC Connect America Fund Phase II program, becoming the first price-cap telco to announce its decision. The FCC gave price-cap carriers until Aug. 27 to decide whether to accept CAF Phase II funding, state by state (see 1504290066). Frontier accepted funding for all its 28 states.

Sen. David Vitter, R-La., introduced S-1545 “to require a quarterly report by the Federal Communications Commission on the Lifeline program funded by the Universal Service Fund,” its title said. The bill’s text wasn't online and it has been referred to the Commerce Committee, where Vitter isn't a member. The legislation has no co-sponsors. Vitter is a critic of the Lifeline program and recently derided any proposed expansion as “absurd.”

Sen. David Vitter, R-La., introduced S-1545 “to require a quarterly report by the Federal Communications Commission on the Lifeline program funded by the Universal Service Fund,” its title said. The bill’s text wasn't online and it has been referred to the Commerce Committee, where Vitter isn't a member. The legislation has no co-sponsors. Vitter is a critic of the Lifeline program and recently derided any proposed expansion as “absurd.”

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., urged the White House to support reauthorization of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, in comments posted Friday on the Broadband Opportunity Council’s (BBOC) request for comment on broadband availability and deployment issues. A group of House Democrats led by House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., and Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture in a separate filing to “modernize” regulations for the Rural Utility Service’s Telecom Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee program to “better facilitate high-speed rural broadband deployment.” BBOC, which the White House created March 23 to spur broadband investment and adoption (see 1503230064), sought comment on ways the federal government can modernize “outdated regulations,” identify regulatory barriers to broadband deployment and promote broadband adoption.