The USF program was established by Congress to ensure that all rural residents have access to affordable, modern telecommunications services. However, in 2003, more than half of the money -- $120 million out of $235 million -- benefited customers in just one state, Mississippi, according to a release from Terry's office. Nearly 85 percent of the total funding went to carriers in only three states, Mississippi, Alabama, and West Virginia. Previously, only eight states received funding under this program.
"This is good news for Nebraska," said Terry, referring to an $8 million USF projection for the state. "This money is necessary for the improvement of the telecommunications infrastructure in our state and to help provide more advanced services like DSL. Unfortunately, many of the rural states that have been forgotten by the USF in the past still receive nothing under this new proposal. It's a ridiculous, arbitrary system.
"I'm encouraged that the FCC found a way to help Nebraska," said Terry. "However the system is still horribly broken. This will not deter me from moving forward with my legislation to fix the USF system for other rural states. We've still got a long way to go to fix this problem."