Senators actively concerned about rural call completion issues...
Senators actively concerned about rural call completion issues have yet to sign on to legislation on the issue. Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., introduced a bill Thursday that targets intermediate providers and would compel basic service quality standards (CD March 14…
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p7). S-2125, the Public Safety and Economic Security Communications Act, lists zero co-sponsors, but Senate Commerce Committee ranking member John Thune, R-S.D., and Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., who have both voiced strong concerns about rural call completion problems, expressed some receptivity to Johnson’s action. “Call completion is an ongoing problem in rural America, and the FCC is in the middle of an effort to resolve the issue by adopting recording, retention, and reporting requirements for long distance carriers to address problems with completing calls to rural areas,” Thune told us in a statement. “The FCC has also engaged in some enforcement actions on call completion, which I would like to see increase. I have made a point to reiterate these concerns personally with each of the FCC Commissioners who have agreed to step up enforcement actions, but should these efforts not prove to be effective in reducing the call completion problem within a reasonable time, I think it may be appropriate to take legislative action.” A spokeswoman for Fischer cited Fischer’s involvement in a resolution on call completion issues with Johnson and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., which passed the Commerce Committee last summer and awaits Senate action. “Senator Fischer’s focus remains on getting this resolution passed and is pleased to see Senator Johnson remains a committed partner in efforts to address these challenges,” the spokeswoman said. A spokeswoman for Klobuchar did not comment. Johnson’s bill has been referred to the Commerce Committee. NARUC state regulators “applaud Sen. Johnson for introducing legislation to address call completion problems that have plagued rural America for the last several years,” said NARUC President Colette Honorable in a statement. “NARUC has adopted multiple resolutions calling for action while several State commissions have moved to investigate and act on intrastate call-completion issues. While the FCC has proposed changes and is collecting data to better monitor the situation, this legislation would be a significant step forward in eliminating the problem.” The FCC has taken several actions recently on rural call completion, an agency spokesman said. (See separate report in this issue.)