IC 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 875 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 11, 2018 

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

AN ACT 

To require the Comptroller General of the United States 

to conduct a study and submit a report on filing requirements under the Universal Service Fund programs. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. STUDY AND REPORT ON FILING REQUIRE2 MENTS UNDER UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND 

3 PROGRAMS. 

4 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 

5 (1) the term ‘‘Administrative Procedure Act’’ 

6 means subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5, United 

7 States Code; 

8 (2) the term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Federal 

9 Communications Commission; 

10 (3) the term ‘‘covered carrier’’ means an eligi11 ble telecommunications carrier or service provider 

12 that receives universal service support under sections 

13 214(e) and 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 

14 (47 U.S.C. 214(e) and 254) for the provision of 

15 service under a Universal Service Fund program; 

16 and 

17 (4) the term ‘‘Universal Service Fund program’’ 

18 means each program of the Commission set forth 

19 under part 54 of title 47, Code of Federal Regula20 tions, or any successor thereto, including— 

21 (A) the Connect America Fund set forth 

22 under subpart D of that part; 

23 (B) the Lifeline program set forth under 

24 subpart E of that part; 

25 (C) the E-Rate program set forth under 

26 subpart F of that part; 


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1 (D) the Rural Health Care program set 

2 forth under subpart G of that part; 

3 (E) the Remote Areas Fund set forth 

4 under subpart J of that part; 

5 (F) the Connect America Fund Broadband 

6 Loop Support program set forth under subpart 

7 K of that part; 

8 (G) the Mobility Fund set forth under sub9 part L of that part; and 

10 (H) the High Cost Loop Support for Rate11 of-Return Carriers program set forth under 

12 subpart M of that part. 

13 (b) STUDY AND REPORT.—Not later than 18 months 

14 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 

15 General of the United States shall conduct a study and 

16 submit to the Commission, the Committee on Commerce, 

17 Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Com18 mittee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Rep19 resentatives a report, which shall include— 

20 (1) an analysis of the filing requirements for 

21 covered carriers participating in a Universal Service 

22 Fund program, including any filings required by the 

23 Universal Service Administrative Company; 


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1 (2) an analysis of the financial impact of those 

2 filing requirements on covered carriers participating 

3 in a Universal Service Fund program; and 

4 (3) recommendations, if any, on how to consoli5 date redundant filing requirements for covered car6 riers participating in a Universal Service Fund pro7 gram. 

8 (c) RULEMAKING.— 

9 (1) NEW OR ONGOING RULEMAKING.—Except 

10 as provided in paragraph (3), not later than 60 days 

11 after the date on which the report is submitted 

12 under subsection (b), the Commission shall— 

13 (A)(i) initiate a rulemaking to consolidate 

14 redundant filing requirements for covered car15 riers participating in a Universal Service Fund 

16 program; and 

17 (ii) incorporate into the rulemaking under 

18 clause (i), and as part of that rulemaking seek 

19 comment on, the recommendations described in 

20 subsection (b)(3), if any, except to the extent 

21 that doing so would violate the requirements of 

22 the Administrative Procedure Act; or 

23 (B) incorporate into an ongoing rule24 making relating to consolidating redundant fil25 ing requirements of the Commission, and as 


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1 part of that rulemaking seek comment on, the 

2 recommendations described in subsection (b)(3), 

3 if any, except to the extent that doing so would 

4 violate the requirements of the Administrative 

5 Procedure Act. 

6 (2) WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE.—In a rule7 making in which the Commission is required under 

8 paragraph (1) to seek comment on the recommenda9 tions described in subsection (b)(3), if any, the Com10 mission shall also seek comment on and consider 

11 whether the benefit of each recommendation is out12 weighed by any potential increased risk of waste, 

13 fraud, and abuse in the Universal Service Fund pro14 gram affected by the recommendation. 

15 (3) PREVIOUS RULEMAKING.—Paragraph (1) 

16 shall not apply if, on or before the date on which the 

17 report is submitted under subsection (b), the Com18 mission completes a rulemaking to consolidate re19 dundant filing requirements for covered carriers par20 ticipating in a Universal Service Fund program. 

Passed the Senate January 10, 2018. 

Attest: JULIE E. ADAMS, 

Secretary. 


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