Telecom Firms Explain Opposition To Cap On Universal Service Fund

TELECOM FIRMS EXPLAIN OPPOSITION TO CAP ON UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Winter Casey]
Telecommunications companies favoring changes to the fund designed to bring communications services to rural areas oppose a cap on the size of the fund. Although a cap on the universal service fund could attract support for changes by conservative Republicans in a pending telecom bill, placing such a limit would increase opposition by the telecom sector, an industry player said Tuesday. The introduction of a cap would open a "can of worms," AT&T executive Ellen Blackler said during a telecommunications policy debate sponsored by the National Coalition for Technology in Education and Training. She said most fund recipients are "happy with the status quo." There currently exists a divide in Congress as to whether a cap should be placed on the funding available to rural telephone services that comprise the majority of USF monies.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-CXGV1153336775417.htm...