USF Equitable Distribution Act of 2015

USF Equitable Distribution Act of 2015

Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require at least 75% of all amounts collected by interstate telecommunications providers from consumers in a rural state for the purpose of making certain contributions to universal service funds established by the Federal Communications Commission to be allocated to consumers in that rural state.

Defines "rural state" as a state in which the total population density is not more than 200 people per square mile, as determined by the latest available decennial census.

Prohibits this Act from being construed to require an increase in amounts collected by interstate telecommunications providers from consumers for the purpose of making such contributions.

[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 734 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 734

To provide for the equitable distribution of Universal Service funds to 
                             rural States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 12, 2015

  Ms. Ayotte introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide for the equitable distribution of Universal Service funds to 
                             rural States.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``USF Equitable Distribution Act of 
2015''.

SEC. 2. DISTRIBUTION OF UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUNDS.

    Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(m) Distribution of Universal Service Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not less than 75 percent of all amounts 
        collected by providers of interstate telecommunications from 
        consumers in a rural State for the purpose of making 
        contributions under subsection (d) shall be allocated to the 
        provision of universal service to consumers in that rural 
        State.
            ``(2) Rural state.--In this subsection, the term `rural 
        State' means a State in which the total population density is 
        not more than 200 people per square mile, as determined by the 
        latest available decennial census conducted under section 
        141(a) of title 13, United States Code.
            ``(3) Amounts collected.--Nothing in this subsection shall 
        be construed as requiring an increase in amounts collected by 
        providers of interstate telecommunications from consumers for 
        the purpose of making contributions under subsection (d).''.
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