Jay Rockefeller: “The provision that will probably become law, in this gigantic stack of papers, is opposed by telecommunications…”

“The provision that will probably become law, in this gigantic stack of papers, is opposed by telecommunications companies. It is opposed by education groups. It is going to be opposed by a lot more groups before this process is finished. The universal service fund is private money. It comes from telephone companies. We don't own the telephone companies. They are their own property. It is managed by nonprofit NECA, the National Exchange Carriers Association. This is private money--private money--that should not be used for budget gimmicks. At this point, we are caught between a rock and a hard place. The bill is before us. It is a good bill on balance. It is a bill that I am going to vote for. It is something that all of us have worked hard for since 1993, and probably before that. It is going to have to be changed, I fear, in the future. I tried to reach Franklin Raines this afternoon. I could not do so. I have spoken to the Vice President about it. I have spoken to everybody I possibly could, because it is terribly bad public policy. I am committed to protecting the integrity of universal service, and I intend to work with Senator Dorgan, Republican colleagues, industry leaders, and advocates to protect universal service and its promise of affordable access to rural America. I urge interested parties to join me in this fight. Universal service is not just about putting computers in classrooms. It is about fairness to rural Americans. It is a sacred trust.…”