KEEP USF FAIR COALITION APPLAUDS CONGRESSIONAL

RURAL CAUCUS’ CALL FOR STRONG, FAIR AND BROAD-BASED

UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND (USF)

Consumer coalition advocates for fair, non-discriminatory collection of USF

Washington, DC – The Keep USF Fair Coalition (www.keepUSFfair.org ) today endorsed the Congressional Rural Caucus’ call for preserving the Universal Service Fund (USF) and for keeping it fair for all consumers.  The Coalition continues to call on the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to keep the USF contribution method fair, equitable and non-discriminatory and not to adopt the proposed regressive tax or fee on telephone numbers.   

Last week, Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R-MN), co-chairman of the Caucus’ Telecommunications Task Force, outlined the group’s overall legislative agenda, with a number one priority placed on preserving the USF as it currently exists.

“The Keep USF Fair Coalition believes all users of communications should pay their fair share to maintain a strong and stable USF system, and applauds the Rural Caucus for lending its voice to this important issue,” said Gabriela Lemus, Director of Policy and Legislation for the League of United Latin American Citizens and Keep USF Fair Coalition Co-Chair.  “Low-volume and low-income users should not be disproportionately burdened.” 

The FCC currently has under consideration alternative methodologies for calculating contributions to the USF.  Especially detrimental to low-income and low volume users would be the per-number collection proposal that shifts the burden from a fair “pay for what you use” arrangement, to a flat fee system that would serve as a de facto tax increase ranging from 1,233 percent (at $1 per month per line) to 2,567 percent (at $2 per month per line) for low-volume users.

“Simply put, the FCC should not shift the burden of paying for the USF from corporations and heavy phone users to people who make a few long distance calls a month,” added Ms. Lemus. 

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The Keep USF Fair Coalition was formed in April 2004.  Over 93,000 current members (as of June 30, 2005) include Alliance for Public Technology, Alliance For Retired Americans, American Association Of People With Disabilities, American Corn Growers Association, American Council of the Blind, Black Leadership Forum, Consumer Action, Deafness Research Foundation, Gray Panthers,  Latino Issues Forum, League Of United Latin American Citizens,  National Association Of The Deaf,  National Grange, National Hispanic Council on Aging, National Native American Chamber of Commerce, Telecommunications Research & Action Center, and World Institute On Disability. The NAACP is a current supporter of the Keep USF Fair Coalition, and is among the many national organizations that have filed comments with the FCC in support of a non-regressive USF collection method.