3.0.0 6356 2019-11-15T21:21:55Z 2019-11-15T21:21:55Z House H HR 2008-06-24 110 hsif00 Energy and Commerce Committee House Standing Referred to 2008-06-24T13:00:15Z 2008-06-24 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. IntroReferral H11100 2 House floor actions hsif00 Energy and Commerce Committee 2008-06-24 Introduced in House IntroReferral Intro-H 9 Library of Congress 2008-06-24 Introduced in House IntroReferral 1000 9 Library of Congress B000213 Rep. Barton, Joe [R-TX-6] JOE BARTON R TX L. 6 N S000822 Rep. Stearns, Cliff [R-FL-6] CLIFF STEARNS R FL 6 2008-06-24 True Science, Technology, Communications Auctions Commerce Education Educational technology Elementary and secondary education Elementary education Fines (Penalties) Fraud Government Operations and Politics Health Housing and Community Development Inspectors general Internet Interstate commerce Interstate relations Law Libraries Rural health Secondary education State laws Subsidies Telecommunication industry Telecommunication rates Telemedicine Telephone Science, Technology, Communications 00 2008-06-24 Introduced in House 2008-08-04T21:53:51Z Universal Service Reform, Accountability, and Efficiency Act of 2008 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to revise the policies concerning the principles for the advancement of universal service to require that the policies be based on the principles of affordability, efficiency, certain contribution and distribution requirements, transparency, consumer focus, and access to advanced telecommunications services for schools, libraries, and rural health care providers.

Requires that universal service support be used solely to provide voice (including IP-enabled voice) communications in high cost areas and to low-income households.

Authorizes the FCC to select any contribution mechanism that is consistent with the above principles and that: (1) is based exclusively on providing voice communications service; (2) does not assess broadband transmission or Internet access services; and (3) includes a universal service contribution low-income exemption.

Requires that universal service support decline over time.

Allows, after this Act's auction, only eligible telecommunications providers to receive support for service in high cost areas. Prohibits the receipt of support for services in high cost areas having a high percentage of high income households.

Prohibits a state from assessing interstate services in order to fund a state's universal service program.

Requires a reverse auction plan in which each auction winner has the privileges and obligations of a provider-of-last-resort to be used to distribute universal service support for voice communications service in high cost areas. Provides for subsequent auctions, including transitioning away from subsidizing a provider-of-last-resort.

Requires the FCC to: (1) determine whether the goals of universal service are being achieved in an economically efficient way; (2) strengthen the universal service program's oversight structure; (3) provide the FCC's Inspector General with resources to conduct regular and thorough audits; (4) permanently bar anyone committing universal service fraud from receiving future subsidies; and (5) develop increased penalties for service fund wrongdoing.

]]> Universal Service Reform, Accountability, and Efficiency Act of 2008 Short Titles as Introduced Universal Service Reform, Accountability, and Efficiency Act of 2008 Official Title as Introduced To reform the collection and distribution of universal service support under the Communications Act of 1934. Display Title Universal Service Reform, Accountability, and Efficiency Act of 2008 Introduced in House 2008-06-24T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-110hr6356ih/xml/BILLS-110hr6356ih.xml 2008-06-24 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.