Barton Urges FCC to Listen to Public, Reform Costly Universal Service Fund

Rep Joe Barton (R-TX) told the Federal Communications Commission Thursday that its attempt to reform the Universal Service Fund "misses the mark" and will have the effect of leaving rural Americans behind. "The program has already cost Americans $51 billion over ten years, and yet there is still no end in sight," he said in a letter address to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin. "Adding broadband will only entrap yet another service in this broken and anti-competitive subsidy program." Rep Barton encouraged the FCC publicize and take public comment on its proposal. There is no excuse, he said, "for skirting the fundamental administrative fairness of allowing the public to comment."