I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 711 

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. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 22, 2019 

Mr. YOUNG (for himself and Mr. LOEBSACK) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL 

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, 

3 SECTION 1. STUDY AND REPORT ON FILING REQUIRE4 MENTS UNDER UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND 

5 PROGRAMS. 

6 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 

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

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

9 States Code; 


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

2 Communications Commission; 

3 (3) the term ‘‘covered carrier’’ means an eligi4 ble telecommunications carrier or service provider 

5 that receives universal service support under sections 

6 214(e) and 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 

7 (47 U.S.C. 214(e) and 254) for the provision of 

8 service under a Universal Service Fund program; 

9 and 

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

11 means each program of the Commission set forth 

12 under part 54 of title 47, Code of Federal Regula13 tions, or any successor thereto, including— 

14 (A) the Connect America Fund set forth 

15 under subpart D of that part; 

16 (B) the Lifeline program set forth under 

17 subpart E of that part; 

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

19 subpart F of that part; 

20 (D) the Rural Health Care program set 

21 forth under subpart G of that part; 

22 (E) the Remote Areas Fund set forth 

23 under subpart J of that part; 


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1 (F) the Connect America Fund Broadband 

2 Loop Support program set forth under subpart 

3 K of that part; 

4 (G) the Mobility Fund set forth under sub5 part L of that part; and 

6 (H) the High Cost Loop Support for Rate7 of-Return Carriers program set forth under 

8 subpart M of that part. 

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

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

11 General of the United States shall conduct a study and 

12 submit to the Commission, the Committee on Commerce, 

13 Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Com14 mittee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Rep15 resentatives a report, which shall include— 

16 (1) an analysis of the filing requirements for 

17 covered carriers participating in a Universal Service 

18 Fund program, including any filings required by the 

19 Universal Service Administrative Company; 

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

21 filing requirements on covered carriers participating 

22 in a Universal Service Fund program; and 

23 (3) recommendations, if any, on how to consoli24 date redundant filing requirements for covered carVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:06 Feb 01, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H711.IH H711

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1 riers participating in a Universal Service Fund pro2 gram. 

3 (c) RULEMAKING.— 

4 (1) NEW OR ONGOING RULEMAKING.—Except 

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

6 after the date on which the report is submitted 

7 under subsection (b), the Commission shall— 

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

9 redundant filing requirements for covered car10 riers participating in a Universal Service Fund 

11 program; and 

12 (ii) incorporate into the rulemaking under 

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

14 comment on, the recommendations described in 

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

16 that doing so would violate the requirements of 

17 the Administrative Procedure Act; or 

18 (B) incorporate into an ongoing rule19 making relating to consolidating redundant fil20 ing requirements of the Commission, and as 

21 part of that rulemaking seek comment on, the 

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

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

24 violate the requirements of the Administrative 

25 Procedure Act. 


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1 (2) WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE.—In a rule2 making in which the Commission is required under 

3 paragraph (1) to seek comment on the recommenda4 tions described in subsection (b)(3), if any, the Com5 mission shall also seek comment on and consider 

6 whether the benefit of each recommendation is out7 weighed by any potential increased risk of waste, 

8 fraud, and abuse in the Universal Service Fund pro9 gram affected by the recommendation. 

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

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

12 report is submitted under subsection (b), the Com13 mission completes a rulemaking to consolidate re14 dundant filing requirements for covered carriers par15 ticipating in a Universal Service Fund program. 

Æ 


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