Cramer Applauds FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai's Rural America Broadband Internet Plan

Press Release

On May 12, 2015, Congressman Cramer submitted a bi-partisan letter signed by 115 Members of Congress to the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging the FCC to move forward on reforms to the Universal Service Fund (USF) to ensure consumers in areas served by small, rate-of-return providers have the same choice among reasonably comparable telecom services at reasonably comparable rates available to consumers in urban areas. Under current rules, when a rural customer buys traditional voice services (with or without broadband services) from a rural telephone company, the company is eligible for USF support. However, if a customer "cuts the cord" of traditional phone service in favor of wireless or Internet-based phone services, rural communities served by smaller telecommunication providers lose access to USF broadband support. Today, Congressman Kevin congratulated FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai on the release of his Rural America Broadband Internet Plan addressing these concerns and proposing reforms to the USF.

"The FCC needs to update its rules and regulations to reflect the rapidly changing telecommunications environment. Commissioner Pai's proposal acknowledges the need for the FCC to adopt common-sense reforms to the Universal Service Fund (USF). We have seen technology transform the economy of rural America in places like North Dakota. These reforms ensure access to high quality, affordable broadband infrastructure. I look forward to continuing to work with Commissioner Pai and my colleagues to help make these reforms a reality," said Cramer.

"FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai's Rural Broadband Proposal would go a long way towards providing assurance to State's independent telecom industry that they would have a reasonable opportunity to recover investments made in next-generation telecom infrastructure," according to David Crothers, Executive Vice President of the North Dakota Association of Telecommunications Cooperatives. "Commissioner Pai's initiative, which closely mirrors a plan advocated by Congressman Cramer, makes it far more likely rural residents will be able to affordably access a telecom infrastructure that can meet their video, data and voice needs."

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