In a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Copps, a bipartisan group of House Commerce Committee members requested additional information about the top recipients -- by company and geographic area -- of high-cost subsidy dollars from the federal Universal Service Fund. The High Cost Program of the Universal Service Fund subsidizes eligible telecommunications carriers for the purpose of ensuring that consumers in all regions of the nation have access to and pay rates for telecommunications services that are reasonably comparable to services provided and rates paid in urban areas. The Members of Congress indicate that they are "likely to consider proposals to reform the federal Universal Service Fund program." They request a response their requests by April 23, 2009.
