Universal Service Reform Act of 2007

To reform the universal service provisions of the Communications Act of 1934, and for other purposes.

4/26/2007--Introduced.
Universal Service Reform Act of 2007 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 concerning procedures for the review of universal service requirements to require the Federal-State Joint Board on universal service to complete recommendations for changes to such requirements within 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act. Includes high-speed broadband services within universal service. Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to assess contributions to universal service support mechanisms from communications service providers. Provides support contribution limits. Requires the FCC to revise it's support mechanism for rural, insular, and high cost areas. Requires communications service providers to ensure that all traffic contains or preserves sufficient information to allow traffic identification by other communications service providers that transport or terminate the traffic. Outlines eligibility requirements for communications service providers to receive universal service support. Makes current limitations on universal service support and individual support caps imposed upon carriers inapplicable after the date of enactment of this Act. Requires all residential and business lines served by an eligible telecommunications carrier to be eligible for federal universal service support. Allows states to:
(1) adopt regulations not inconsistent with FCC universal service rules; and
(2) require communications service providers to contribute regardless of whether the service contains an interstate component.


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Sponsor

• Rep. Frederick Boucher [D, VA-9]
• and 45 Co-Sponsors
  • Rep. Neil Abercrombie [D, HI-1]
  • Rep. Tammy Baldwin [D, WI-2]
  • Rep. Robert Berry [D, AR-1]
  • Rep. Dan Boren [D, OK-2]
  • Rep. Leonard Boswell [D, IA-3]
  • Rep. Nancy Boyda [D, KS-2]
  • Rep. Bruce Braley [D, IA-1]
  • Rep. Henry Brown [R, SC-1]
  • Rep. George Butterfield [D, NC-1]
  • Rep. Christopher Cannon [R, UT-3]
  • Rep. Shelley Capito [R, WV-2]
  • Rep. Jim Costa [D, CA-20]
  • Rep. Barbara Cubin [R, WY-0]
  • Rep. Lincoln Davis [D, TN-4]
  • Rep. Lloyd Doggett [D, TX-25]
  • Rep. Brad Ellsworth [D, IN-8]
  • Rep. Bob Filner [D, CA-51]
  • Rep. Jeffrey Fortenberry [R, NE-1]
  • Rep. Virginia Foxx [R, NC-5]
  • Rep. Samuel Graves [R, MO-6]
  • Rep. Phil Hare [D, IL-17]
  • Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin [D, SD-0]
  • Rep. Rubén Hinojosa [D, TX-15]
  • Rep. Tim Holden [D, PA-17]
  • Rep. Darlene Hooley [D, OR-5]
  • Rep. Steve Kagen [D, WI-8]
  • Rep. Ronald Kind [D, WI-3]
  • Rep. Steve King [R, IA-5]
  • Rep. Thomas Latham [R, IA-4]
  • Rep. David Loebsack [D, IA-2]
  • Rep. Donald Manzullo [R, IL-16]
  • Rep. Jim Matheson [D, UT-2]
  • Rep. John McHugh [R, NY-23]
  • Rep. Mike McIntyre [D, NC-7]
  • Rep. Jerry Moran [R, KS-1]
  • Rep. Collin Peterson [D, MN-7]
  • Rep. Earl Pomeroy [D, ND-0]
  • Rep. George Radanovich [R, CA-19]
  • Rep. Paul Ryan [R, WI-1]
  • Rep. Michael Simpson [R, ID-2]
  • Rep. Adrian Smith [R, NE-3]
  • Rep. Zackary Space [D, OH-18]
  • Rep. Lee Terry [R, NE-2]
  • Rep. Tom Udall [D, NM-3]
  • Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz [D, FL-20]
  close

Committees

• House Energy and Commerce
• 1 more
  • House Energy and Commerce
  close

Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to H.R.2054

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
April 26, 2007

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All Bill Actions

• Apr 30, 2007: Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.
• Apr 26, 2007: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• Introduced on Apr 26, 2007.

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In the News

June 13, 2007 Senators Take FCC to Task for Lack of Rural Telephone Service Fund ...

( HR 2054 ). The funding squeeze now facing the USF, which takes in money through a surcharge on long-distance bills, is caused in part by callers ...

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Source: Congressional Quarterly, DC

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Blog Coverage

July 14, 2008 Phone Subsidies in Disarray

HR 2054, The Universal Service Reform Act of 2007; S. 711, The Universal Service for the 21st Century Act (and a Senate version too); HR 6356, The Universal Service Reform, Accountability, and Efficiency Act of 2008; S. 101, The USA Act ...

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Source: The washingtonwatch.com Blog

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April 15, 2008 "the Universal Service Reform Act. HR 2054 will improve broadband ...

Forum: Off-Topic Posted By: Jeff Post Time: 04-15-2008 at 04:29 AM.

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Source: wildblue Uncensored ! Satellite Support Forums

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August 24, 2007 The Pew data

Rick Boucher has slightly revised and reintroduced his Universal Service Reform Act (HR2054), which would in part redefine broadband at 1Mbps and set a goal of achieving that within five years. Note that the majority of Japanese already ...

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Source: The Pew data

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