What This Bill Does
This bill asks the Federal Communications Commission (an independent government agency that regulates communications) to study and reform how the Universal Service Fund collects money from companies. The Universal Service Fund is a program that helps pay for affordable broadband and phone service for low-income people, rural areas and schools. The bill requires the Commission to make sure contributions to this fund are fair and spread across more types of companies.
Who It Affects
The Federal Communications Commission, Congress, consumers, businesses and seniors.
Key Provisions
• The Federal Communications Commission must complete a study within 120 days after the law passes that looks at whether the Universal Service Fund should collect money from more types of companies to make sure the requirement is fair and equal (Sec. 2).
• The Federal Communications Commission must submit a report to Congress about the results of this study (Sec. 2).
• The Federal Communications Commission must finish a rulemaking process within one year after the law passes to reform how the Universal Service Fund collects money, including possibly expanding which companies have to contribute (Sec. 3).
• When making these changes, the Federal Communications Commission must think about how the changes affect consumers, businesses and seniors (Sec. 3).
What Changes
If this becomes law, the Federal Communications Commission will be required to study and potentially expand which companies and entities must contribute money to the Universal Service Fund.
Important Definitions
None defined in the bill text.
II
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 975
To require the Federal Communications Commission to reform the
contribution system of the Universal Service Fund, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
MARCH 27, 2023
Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself, Mr. THUNE, Mr. HICKENLOOPER, and Mr.
MORAN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
A BILL
To require the Federal Communications Commission to re-
form the contribution system of the Universal Service
Fund, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Reforming Broadband
4
Connectivity Act of 2023’’.
5
SEC. 2. STUDY AND REPORT.
6
Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment
7
of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission (re-
8
ferred to in this Act as the ‘‘Commission’’) shall—
9
VerDate Sep 11 2014
00:57 Apr 06, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S975.IS
S975
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2
•S 975 IS
(1) conduct a study assessing the need to ex-
1
pand the contribution base of the Universal Service
2
Fund to ensure that the contribution requirement
3
under section 254(d) of the Communications Act of
4
1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(d)) is imposed fairly and equi-
5
tably; and
6
(2) submit to Congress a report on the results
7
of the study conducted under paragraph (1).
8
SEC. 3. UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND CONTRIBUTION SYSTEM
9
REFORM.
10
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the
11
date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall com-
12
plete a rulemaking to reform the contribution system of
13
the Universal Service Fund, including by expanding the
14
contribution base of the Universal Service Fund.
15
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the rule-
16
making required under subsection (a), the Commission
17
shall consider—
18
(1) the relative equities and burdens of the pro-
19
posed changes to the contribution system of the Uni-
20
versal Service Fund with respect to consumers and
21
businesses;
22
(2) the impact of the proposed changes to the
23
contribution system of the Universal Service Fund
24
on seniors; and
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
00:57 Apr 06, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S975.IS
S975
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3
•S 975 IS
(3) the findings and recommendations in the re-
1
port submitted under section 2(2).
2
Æ
VerDate Sep 11 2014
00:57 Apr 06, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\S975.IS
S975
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS