Pai Addresses Waste, Fraud and Abuse in Lifeline Program

In recent testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai confirmed what many of us already knew, or at least suspected: That…

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Commissioner O’Rielly Addresses USF Reform Issues

In a recent presentation to WTA, FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly touched on important aspects of high cost USF support for Rate-of-Return carriers. His remarks are very likely an indication of…

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Lifeline Program Gets Some Major Attention

“We are concerned that the risks to program integrity outlined in this report threaten a service that is essential to ensuring that low-income Americans can connect to employment opportunities, family…

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Budget Mechanism Strikes Again

NECA has just filed its proposed 2018 Modification of the Average Schedule Universal Service High Cost Loop Support Formula, which increases interstate USF settlements for some of the nation’s smallest…

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Has the FCC Abandoned Universal Service?

The concept of universal telephone service at reasonable rates has been around since the early 20th century, and codified into law in 1934. As early as 1913, the U.S. government…

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Another Double Standard

Recently, a group of 10 Congressmen from the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, all of them Democrats, filed scathing comments in the FCC’s net neutrality proceeding to return ISPs…

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The Small Company Coalition – A Strong Voice for RLECs

From its motto, “We Built It, We Maintain It. We Value It,” to its ongoing Campaign to Reduce Regulatory Burden, the Small Company Coalition is a strong advocacy group for…

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