Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee made a request this month for information from the Federal Communications Commission pertaining to the Universal Service Fund.
Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), as well as Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and Ranking Member Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), requested current information regarding funding distribution and reform efforts in the USF.
“Americans pay nearly $9 billion dollars into the Universal Service Fund each year,” Upton and Walden said. “Today’s letter continues a standing bipartisan request to the FCC for data to aid the committee in its oversight of the fund, prevent waste, fraud and abuse, and ensure the taxpayers are getting the most benefit for every USF dollar.”
In the letter to the FCC, the four committee leaders said the commission has already implemented some significant efforts to reform both the high-cost and low-income support programs. The leaders changed their data request to reflect changes made due to reforms.
“The FCC has made a significant commitment to modernize these programs and ensure scarce public dollars are used effectively,” Waxman said. “I will continue to push the FCC to pursue USF reforms that benefit American consumers and crack down on waste, fraud and abuse.”