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July 8, 2005
 
Rahall Insists That WV, All of Rural America, Be Included in New Telecom Act
 
by HNN Staff

 
Beckley, WV (HNN)- U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) joined a bi-partisan group of his colleagues Thursday, July 7, 2005 in announcing a set of rural telecommunications principles, which will be crucial as Congress plans to re-write the Nation's telecommunications laws.
 
"As we move forward with restructuring the telecom laws of our Nation, it is crucial that West Virginia and rural America are kept in mind," said Rahall. "It is essential that southern West Virginia have the best telecommunications available, and that is why I am working with the Congressional Rural Caucus to address this matter."
 
The principles, which were endorsed by the Congressional Rural Caucus, were laid out for the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce last week. The principles state that the Universal Service Fund must continue to be an industry-funded mechanism and state rural telecom companies must be compensated for all traffic that utilizes their networks.
 
The Universal Service Fund was designed over 70 years ago to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable telecommunications services. The Fund has provided broadband access to schools and libraries across southern West Virginia over the years. In addition to reducing the cost of Internet connection for these schools and libraries, the Universal Service Fund also subsidizes telephone service in rural areas.
 
"Technology, Transportation and Tourism - what I call the Three T's - are crucial to the future economic prosperity of southern West Virginia," said Rahall. "I continue to focus my efforts on developing the Three T's which I believe help create jobs and foster business opportunities across southern West Virginia."
 
In addition to maintaining the Universal Service Fund, the principles from Rahall and the Congressional Rural Caucus also state investment in rural networks is essential for rural America to remain competitive and have access to advanced broadband infrastructure. The principles additionally state a need for requiring that carriers be compensated by all traffic using their networks; encouraging intermodal competition; and mandating all providers to allow competitors to interconnect with their networks, regardless of the technology used.
 
"As a member of the Congressional Rural Caucus, I am working with both my Democrat and Republican colleagues to help ensure West Virginia and all of rural America is ensured a first class telecommunications infrastructure in the re-write of the Telecom Act," said Rahall. "We are working to protect the technological infrastructure which makes advanced telecommunications services, including broadband, available to all every American."