Local View: Telecommunications at risk with proposals

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By JOHN E. ROONEY

For many Americans, cell phones have become a necessary component of everyday life, helping us do business, stay in touch with the people who matter most to us and call for help in emergencies.

Indeed, firefighters and police officers depend on wireless service to respond quickly to emergency situations. They rely on cell phones to assist in search and rescue operations, address domestic violence situations, conduct undercover activities and communicate in areas where police radio is unavailable.

That’s why a recent proposal by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is so troubling to me — and potentially dangerous for rural Nebraska.

Wireless carriers cannot always justify the costs of building reliable networks everywhere they are needed. Therefore, Congress created a program called the Universal Service Fund (USF) to provide an incentive to build communications networks in rural areas.

Unfortunately, the FCC placed a cap on the wireless portion of the fund earlier this year and now proposes drastic cuts.

If the FCC cuts USF support for wireless carriers, Nebraska will lose roughly $24 million per year in USF funding. New cell sites could be canceled or delayed. And cutting the fund in half would save consumers just 17 cents a month.

Cutting the fund is shortsighted at best and certainly unfair to rural America. Does the FCC really think everyone everywhere has reliable wireless service? Many rural residents must deal with poor coverage, dropped calls and dangerous dead zones on an everyday basis. If USF support is cut as proposed, these conditions will not improve, and public safety could be threatened.

To provide the best possible service and public safety to rural Americans, wireless carriers need a fair share of universal service funding. I am proud to say that U.S. Cellular has led the effort to preserve federal support for rural wireless development through Connecting Rural America, a grassroots coalition working for equality in wireless telecommunications.

John E. Rooney is president and CEO of U.S. Cellular. More information is available at www.ConnectingRuralAmerica.org.