Political Quotes

“it is time for the Federal Communications Commission to do something to safeguard the telephone rates that people living in rural America pay. When the Telecommunications Act of 1996 passed, there was one thing Congress wanted to ensure: that rates for residential and rural customers did not skyrocket. To protect against that, the FCC was directed to come with a ``competitively neutral'' support program. The law required them to take action by May of last year. We have yet to see action. They announced possible rules, but also stated a whole new round of administrative proceedings. Right now, the FCC is debating which computer model will give them the right answers. Some of the smaller telephone companies have seen their support programs frozen in place; others are still up in the air. This is not acceptable, Mr. Speaker. I urge the FCC to resolve this issue and resolve it soon. For rural Americans, telephone service at affordable rates is not a luxury, it is essential.”