WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) welcomed news that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will take steps to prevent telecommunications operators from dropping calls from rural customers.
During a hearing of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, Udall, who chairs the subcommittee, secured the promise from FCC Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn that FCC regulators will ensure providers will no longer discriminate against calls coming from rural areas.
Video of the hearing is available
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"I am very pleased that the FCC will take action," said Udall, who has long fought for the FCC to fix the problem of rural dropped calls. He recounted the story of a rural N.M. resident whose heart stopped, triggering his ‘life alert' device to call his doctor.
"When his doctor tried to phone him, the call did not go through," Udall said. "Thankfully, this situation did not become a tragedy. But it highlights why FCC action is so important. Frankly action cannot come soon enough. So thank you for your announcement today."
According to the FCC, the problem stems from the fact that some long-distance and wireless carriers contract with third-party "least-cost routing" service providers to connect calls in rural areas to their destination at the lowest cost possible. Although many of these contracts include strictly defined performance parameters, all too frequently those performance levels are not being met and some calls are not even connecting at all.
Clyburn announced that she will propose new rules for the FCC to consider in the coming days to "ensure all rural Americans receive their phone calls."
During the hearing, held on the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Udall emphasized the need for the FCC to complete its work on improving first responder communication networks to save lives in future emergency events, a key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission that remains unfinished.
Udall also highlighted other key communications needs for rural New Mexico. He urged the FCC to address the need to expand rural broadband, and next generation 9-1-1 service for cell phones.
New Mexico ranks 49th in the nation in Internet access, and 34 percent of New Mexicans lack access to Internet services. On tribal lands, just an estimated 10 percent of residents have broadband access.
Udall continues to be a strong supporter of ensuring all Americans have access to the Internet, even the most rural communities, to help build economic and educational opportunities.
"Broadband is a key infrastructure challenge for our time. But the nation that invented the Internet now ranks behind other countries when it comes to high-speed Internet access," Udall said after the hearing.
"This appalling digital divide creates real hardships for people, particularly in emergency situations. I was pleased to hear from FCC Chairwoman Clyburn and the other members of the Commission that they understand the need to bridge the digital divide. I'm going to continue pushing to ensure the federal government keeps up its commitment."
The following is Udall's opening statement:
Good morning. I am pleased to convene this hearing of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government. I welcome my ranking member, Senator Mike Johanns, and other colleagues who have joined me on the dais today.
I also want to welcome our witnesses, especially Mignon Clyburn, the acting Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission. Chairwoman Clyburn thank you for your service. I look forward to your testimony.
Also with us are Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Ajit Pai. Both are dedicated public servants who previously served on the staff of the Senate Commerce and Judiciary committees. I look forward to their testimony as well.
Today we are meeting on the anniversary of the tragic terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, a day that is seared in our nation's history. And we are reminded that our nation's communications networks do more than just help keep us in touch with friends and family, or entertain us with TV and music, or facilitate commerce. In emergency situations, our communications networks save lives.
Just as we will never forget the 9/11 attacks, we will never forget the heroic first responders who ran to the rescue. Lack of inter-operable communications led to the further loss of life, fixing this remains a key unfinished recommendation of the 9/11 Commission.
As Commission co-chair Thomas Kean has said: "When fireman can't talk to policeman, can't talk to rescue workers, medical personnel, people die." Congress thus gave the FCC a vital task: to ensure that communications services are available to "all the people" of the United States.
Helping make sure that calls to 911 can be made in emergencies, that pilots can communicate with control towers, and consumers can benefit from the latest wireless innovations. I look forward to hearing a report from you about the progress we're making to ensure that our first responders are able to communicate during an emergency.
Last year, Congress enacted legislation that instructs the FCC to conduct spectrum auctions to make more spectrum available for mobile broadband use. Auction proceeds will also help fund the "First Net" public safety network and generate revenue for the US Treasury.
The FCC is also currently engaged in another important task: modernizing the more than $8 billion dollar Universal Service Fund to meet our nation's broadband challenge.
The United States invented the Internet. But now we lag behind many countries when it comes to broadband access. This is especially so in rural parts of New Mexico, the West and the nation as a whole. The FCC conducts its work with about 1,735 full-time employees. That is the lowest number in decades.
This committee's fiscal year 2014 appropriations bill sets the FCC budget at $359.3 million. A modest increase from the fiscal year 2013 enacted level. FCC spending is fully offset by regulatory fees and proceeds from spectrum auctions.
This committee has an important responsibility: ensuring that the FCC uses those funds wisely on behalf of the American people. There are two basic questions. What are the resource needs of the FCC? And what are the consequences of shortfalls?
I have the honor of chairing this subcommittee with Sen. Johanns, and I look forward to working with him on a bipartisan basis on these important FCC issues.
I now turn to our Ranking Member, Senator Johanns, for any remarks that he would like to make.
