Telecompetitor

Government entities provide over $15 billion in farm and agriculture subsidies every year. Among other goals, these controversial payments are designed to help stabilize food prices and keep American crops competitive in the global economy. Some call these subsidies a ‘sacred cow’ because they are very politically charged and are ...

In an address at the OPASTCO conference in Seattle today, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski attempted to justify the Universal Service reforms proposed in the National Broadband Plan issued in March. Small carriers that receive Universal Service funding, ...

Bi-partisan legislation introduced this week aims to transition today’s voice-focused Universal Service (USF) fund to one focused on broadband. That may sound a lot like USF reform proposals in the Federal ...

Rural broadband is a much talked about subject these days, as it should be. It’s a complex issue – but one that should be paid attention to. Ensuring adequate broadband access for all Americans is the right public policy. The complexity revolves around the definition of ‘adequate’ and the allocation ...

The $7.2 billion broadband stimulus program may become a little lighter - about $602 million lighter. The House Appropriations Committee inserted the cuts into a bill which aims to find funding for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq – funding to the tune ...

The Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing yesterday on Universal Service Fund (USF) reform. It’s a hot topic. As the FCC looks to implement the national broadband plan, USF reform is front and center. There is considerable debate ...

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski has announced the creation of a Universal Service Working Group aimed at implementing reforms outlined in the National Broadband Plan. Heading up the group will be Sharon Gillett, chief of the ...

There is a big fight brewing in Washington – one whose outcome will have far reaching implications for rural broadband carriers. The issue is the multi-billion dollar universal service fund, and the fight revolves around its reform. As a result, many of the leading trade associations ...

When talking about the Universal Service Fund, high cost support and schools and libraries funding usually get most of the attention. But there is also the Rural Health Care Fund, which distributes about $50 million per year to help rural health care providers pay for ...

Part two of our three part National Broadband Plan series explains how the Connect America Fund would replace today’s voice-based universal service fund and how inter-carrier compensation also would get a revamp A critical element of the National Broadband Plan issued in mid-March is a ...