Coalition To Keep America Connected.

Washington, D.C., June 13, 2006 -- Coalition to Keep America Connected Representative and Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies President John Rose today testified before the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation during its hearing on the revised version of S. 2686, the Communications, Consumers' Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006.

In his testimony, Rose hailed the bill's provisions that would expand the base of contributors to the Universal Service Fund (USF). He noted the flexibility allotted to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to base USF contributions on several factors, including revenues, connections and network capacity, is necessary in the evolving market.

'Permitting broadband service to be assessed in a combination of ways, based on revenues and/or capacity ensures a sustainable contribution base for the long term as consumers continue to migrate to broadband platforms [and] in turn enables consumers in rural and high-cost areas to continue to have affordable access to high-quality telecommunications and information services that are comparable to those available to urban and suburban residents,' Rose testified.

Rose offered the coalition's support for provisions in the latest draft establishing a separate account in the USF for broadband support, noting that 'by making targeted support for broadband deployment available to rural telecommunications companies who have, thus far, been unable to achieve full coverage, will help to bring our country closer to the goal of affordable broadband availability for all Americans, no matter where they live.'

Rose testified that the coalition also supported language in the bill that prohibits the limitation of USF support to a single connection or primary line, and for the permanent exemption of the USF from the Anti-Deficiency Act.

However, Rose noted three additional areas the coalition would like to see addressed in the legislation as it moves forward, including the inclusion of a provision that would require USF support for eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) to be based on a carrier's actual costs.

Click here for a copy of Rose's testimony. (PDF)

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The Coalition to Keep America Connected is dedicated to ensuring that all consumers have access to affordable telecommunications services and the latest technologies-no matter where they live. The effort is organized by four rural telecom associations, whose memberships include 700 small and midsize communications companies. Together these companies serve millions of consumers and 40% of the landmass across America. Visit us at www.keepamericaconnected.org.