NTU urges all Representatives to vote“YES” on H.R. 1343, which would address unused or reclaimed funds madeavailable for broadband awards in the 2009 stimulus bill. Introduced by Rep. Bass (R-NH), this bill will protecttaxpayers by terminating poorly performing or wasteful broadband projects and ensuringthe return of those funds to the Treasury.
Despitethe Rural Utilities Service’s and National Telecommunications and InformationAdministration’s questionable history of oversight and a lack of experience inhandling a project of this size, the stimulus bill included $7.2 billion forbroadband programs to be administered by those two agencies. Unsurprisingly,numerous investigations and studies have revealed that both of these entities lackedsufficient stewardship capabilities, engaged in inefficient uses of taxpayermoney, and strayed considerably from their goals of reaching underservedcommunities.
NTUhas long stated its concern that federal involvement in the expansion ofbroadband Internet service would inevitably lead to market distortions thatforce higher costs for consumers and heavier burdens for taxpayers. AlthoughH.R. 1343 represents only a single step toward eliminating the government’snetwork of harmful subsidies, its mechanisms for identifying and returningwasted broadband stimulus funds constitute long overdue progress on reform.
Roll call votes on H.R.1343 will be significantly weighted in our annual Rating of Congress anda “YES” vote will be considered the pro-taxpayer position.
If you have any questions, please contact NTU Federal Government Affairs Manager Brandon Greife at(703) 683-5700