11/04/08 FCC proposal affects rural phone service

Yes, its Election Day but there's another vote you of which need to be aware. The FCC, the Federal Communications Commission has scheduled a vote today that many, including the American Farm Bureau fear will lead to higher phone bills for rural customers. More than sixty Congressmen have asked the FCC to slow down, think things through. JONES "At this point while it's still scheduled to go ahead I think with all the pressure being put on them they may change their minds and delay it." Farm Bureau's Elizabeth Jones says there are proposed changes in what's called the Universal Service Fund., the fund that offsets the higher cost of providing phone service to rural America. Even though the FCC hasn't released the details publicly Jones says word has it that small telecommunication companies would be hurt and that would lead to a reduction investment in rural broadband access. JONES "The average person should be concerned because their telephone bill will go up and the average rural consumer should be concerned because it may delay their ability to get broadband. If the rural companies profit margins are cut into its going to be even harder for them to deploy broadband. Broadband while it may be a luxury today will be a necessity in the future." Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott