Repeals and amend sexisting law to provide financial support for communication services to consumers at just and reasonable rates.

The purpose of the proposed legislation is to expand the definition and purpose of the existing universalservicefundwhichhasexistedsince1988. Theexistingfundprovidesfinancialassistance for the purpose of providing funding for basic telecommunication services in high cost areas. This legislation will extend universal service funding to high cost areas for broadband and internet communication services in addition to the funding now provided to some companies for basic telephone services. Revenue for the fund will be provided by a surcharge on the end users of communication services, which surcharge cannot exceed twenty cents per month. The fund will continue to be administered by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.