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S. 2256 Internet and Universal Service Act of 2006 (NetUSA)
Submitted by Benton Foundation on Tue, 02/21/2006 - 10:22
Last updated: Tue, 03/04/2008 - 11:40
Last updated: Tue, 03/04/2008 - 11:40
Summary
Senator Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) introduced the Internet Universal Service Act (NetUSA) important legislation that will impact the lives of Montanans in significant ways.
NetUSA is designed to protect and improve the important steps already made to connect rural America with phone and internet access established by the Universal Service Fund (USF). NetUSA lays the ground work for the rapid deployment of high-speed, broadband internet access to rural areas by providing incentives to broadband providers in rural areas to reach out into areas that would be underserved or not served at all without it.
Updates
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. 2/8/2006
On February 8, Technology Daily reported that negotiations between Sens. Conrad Burns and John (Jay) Rockefeller (D-WV) over reforming the universal service fund have collapsed. The two powerful lawmakers had been collaborating for six months to draft a USF bill that might form the foundation of legislation envisioned by Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). But the bipartisan alliance dissolved and Sen Burns introduced the bill Wednesday without any co-sponsors. Sources said Sens Burns and Rockefeller failed to agree on several matters pertaining to carrier contributions and distributions. The impasse involving two of the program's strongest advocates highlights the complexities of reaching consensus on revamping the $7.1 billion federal program for subsidizing communications services in rural and low-income areas.
(More)
In January,Technology Daily reported on the progress Sens Burn and Rockefeller had been making in drafting the bill.
See http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=node/1170
Resources
Supporters
Introduced by Sen Conrad Burns (R-MT)
* USTelecom Encouraged by New Proposal to Reform Universal Service
http://www.ustelecom.org/news_releases.php?urh=home.news.nr2006_0209
Detractors
Date
February 21, 2006