[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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