Pai Says Obama to Blame for USF Support Reduction to Small Carriers
Blame the Obama administration for a projected 15.52 percent reduction in USF support for small rural carriers over the next year, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said Tuesday. Universal Service Administrative Co. Tuesday announced support calculations for the budget control mechanism…
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for July 2018 and June 2019. “The prior Administration’s budget control mechanism has created constant uncertainty for small, rural carriers, endangering their ability to make long-term investment decisions to bring high-speed broadband to the millions of Americans who still lack it,” Pai said. “That’s why earlier this year we allocated $180 million to such carriers as a stop-gap measure to avert budget cuts for the current funding year. But now small carriers are facing even more severe cuts in the coming year, which will only exacerbate the digital divide in rural America.” It shows importance of a recent NPRM to review the budget control mechanism (see 1803230025), Pai said. “We’re still accepting public input on the Notice, but once that period has ended, I hope my colleagues will support my efforts to take action in the coming months.” Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel didn't comment.