In a series of letters dated October 15, 2019, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai responded to concerns from 30 US Senators regarding overall funding caps on Universal Service programs, as well as the Texas Carriers’ petition related to fiber builds.
In response to Senators’ concerns regarding USF caps, Pai stated that the FCC has an “obligation to safeguard the funds ultimately paid by consumers,” and recognized that “each of the USF programs is already capped or operating under a targeted budget.” In response to Senator Steve Daines’ July 10 letter to Pai expressing concerns about “duplicative federal investment from the Universal Service Program for Schools and Libraries,” Pai stated that the “Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau sought comment on [the Texas Carriers’] petition, and the comment cycle has completed. Commission staff is carefully reviewing the record.”
Pai’s letters may be found at the following links:
