American Farm Bureau Federation Urges FCC to Consider Welfare of Rural Americans in Proposed Order

Oct. 29, 2008 - PRLog -- The American Farm Bureau Federation (Farm Bureau) has raised concerns regarding the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed order on intercarrier compensation (ICC) and Universal Service Fund (USF).  In a letter to the FCC, the Farm Bureau urged the FCC to consider how the Commission’s actions “will affect the current and future health and welfare of rural Americans and their communities.”

On behalf of the six million families represented by the Farm Bureau, Mark Maslyn, Executive Director of Public Policy, said, “We are troubled by reports that the package currently under consideration will raise telecommunications costs for rural residential and business consumers. Any increase in rates will mitigate the benefits of increased rural broadband deployment and possibly reduce the number of rural subscribers to the most basic telecommunications services.”

The FCC has stated its intention to vote on the proposed order on November 4th.  Thousands of consumers, more than 90 Members of Congress and consumer organizations, including the AARP and the Consumer Federation of America have joined the Farm Bureau in urging the FCC to undertake a more thorough review of the order and how it will impact consumers.

The Farm Bureau is an independent, non-governmental, voluntary organization governed by and representing farm and ranch families united for the purpose of analyzing their problems and formulating action to achieve educational improvement, economic opportunity and social advancement and, thereby, to promote the national well-being.

The Coalition for Affordable Communications is an association of rural phone and broadband providers concerned with ensuring that American consumers and businesses continue to enjoy affordable telephone and broadband service.  The CAC includes CenturyTel, Consolidated Communications, Embarq, FairPoint Communications, Frontier Communications, Iowa Telecom and Windstream Communications, who collectively serve more than 17 million customers in 42 states.                                      

Contacts:
Kelly Sullivan / Annabelle Rinehart    
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher    
(212) 355-4449