Byron Dorgan: “in the telecommunications bill there is a provision with respect to universal service that describes certain conditions…”

“in the telecommunications bill there is a provision with respect to universal service that describes certain conditions in which the State designates additional essential telecommunications carriers that may impose certain requirements. I think it is sufficiently important to say the State shall impose those requirements. I would like to explain why this is important to me and why I think it is important to rural America. Before I do, let me comment on a couple of broader points about this legislation. Clearly, there would never be a circumstance where legislation affecting the telecommunications industry would be moving through the Congress without their being an intense interest by the telecommunications industry. The fact is that without congressional involvement in trying to set some new rules for competition, the industry itself is out creating the rules. That is why universal service legislation is necessary. We must establish some guidelines about where we move in the future and what is in the public interest as we do that. I come from a rural State.”