    [Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 10, 2018)]
    [Senate]
    [Pages S141-S142]
    From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      REQUIRING THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES TO CONDUCT A
                           STUDY AND SUBMIT A REPORT

      Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
    proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 282, S. 875.
      The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.

    [[Page S142]]

      The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

           A bill (S. 875) to require the Comptroller General of the
         United States to conduct a study and submit a report on
         filing requirements under the Universal Service Fund
         programs.

      There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill,
    which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
    Transportation, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting
    clause and insert in lieu thereof the following:

         SECTION 1. STUDY AND REPORT ON FILING REQUIREMENTS UNDER
                       UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND PROGRAMS.

           (a) Definitions.--In this section--
           (1) the term ``Administrative Procedure Act'' means
         subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code;
           (2) the term ``Commission'' means the Federal
         Communications Commission;
           (3) the term ``covered carrier'' means an eligible
         telecommunications carrier or service provider that receives
         universal service support under sections 214(e) and 254 of
         the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 214(e) and 254) for
         the provision of service under a Universal Service Fund
         program; and
           (4) the term ``Universal Service Fund program'' means each
         program of the Commission set forth under part 54 of title
         47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto,
         including--
           (A) the Connect America Fund set forth under subpart D of
         that part;
           (B) the Lifeline program set forth under subpart E of that
         part;
           (C) the E-Rate program set forth under subpart F of that
         part;
           (D) the Rural Health Care program set forth under subpart G
         of that part;
           (E) the Remote Areas Fund set forth under subpart J of that
         part;
           (F) the Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support program
         set forth under subpart K of that part;
           (G) the Mobility Fund set forth under subpart L of that
         part; and
           (H) the High Cost Loop Support for Rate-of-Return Carriers
         program set forth under subpart M of that part.
           (b) Study and Report.--Not later than 18 months after the
         date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the
         United States shall conduct a study and submit to the
         Commission, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
         Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Energy and
         Commerce of the House of Representatives a report, which
         shall include--
           (1) an analysis of the filing requirements for covered
         carriers participating in a Universal Service Fund program,
         including any filings required by the Universal Service
         Administrative Company;
           (2) an analysis of the financial impact of those filing
         requirements on covered carriers participating in a Universal
         Service Fund program; and
           (3) recommendations, if any, on how to consolidate
         redundant filing requirements for covered carriers
         participating in a Universal Service Fund program.
           (c) Rulemaking.--
           (1) New or ongoing rulemaking.--Except as provided in
         paragraph (3), not later than 60 days after the date on which
         the report is submitted under subsection (b), the Commission
         shall--
           (A)(i) initiate a rulemaking to consolidate redundant
         filing requirements for covered carriers participating in a
         Universal Service Fund program; and
           (ii) incorporate into the rulemaking under clause (i), and
         as part of that rulemaking seek comment on, the
         recommendations described in subsection (b)(3), if any,
         except to the extent that doing so would violate the
         requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act; or
           (B) incorporate into an ongoing rulemaking relating to
         consolidating redundant filing requirements of the
         Commission, and as part of that rulemaking seek comment on,
         the recommendations described in subsection (b)(3), if any,
         except to the extent that doing so would violate the
         requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act.
           (2) Waste, fraud, and abuse.--In a rulemaking in which the
         Commission is required under paragraph (1) to seek comment on
         the recommendations described in subsection (b)(3), if any,
         the Commission shall also seek comment on and consider
         whether the benefit of each recommendation is outweighed by
         any potential increased risk of waste, fraud, and abuse in
         the Universal Service Fund program affected by the
         recommendation.
           (3) Previous rulemaking.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply if,
         on or before the date on which the report is submitted under
         subsection (b), the Commission completes a rulemaking to
         consolidate redundant filing requirements for covered
         carriers participating in a Universal Service Fund program.

      Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
    committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to, the bill, as
    amended, be considered read a third time and passed, and the motion to
    reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
      The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
      The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was
    agreed to.
      The bill (S. 875), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a
    third reading, was read the third time, and passed.

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