Americans Call For Loer Phone Bills (NAPSA)—Americans' are speaking out against a proposal that some say could raise millions of people’s phone bills. The proposal has to do ith a program called the Universal Service Fund (USF). The fund as established to help ensure that lo-income and rural consumers have access to affordable phone services. It also provides Internet access at discounted rates to schools, libraries and health care providers in rural areas. Currently, USF moneyis collected on a “pay-for-hat-you-use” system—meaning a percentage of a monthly phone bill to the Uni- versal Service Fund is based on ho much long distance a person uses. The less people use long distance, the less they pay into the fund. Hoever, the Federal Com- munications Commission (FCC) is considering changing the “pay-forhat-you-use” system to a “monthly flat fee.” Opponents of the change say it means that a person’s monthly phonebill (or bills) could reflect a USF charge that isn’t proportionate to the amountof long distance used. The Keep USF Fair Coalition has called the proposed change unfair and has saidit discriminates against Americans ith lo or fixed incomes, residential consumers or those ho use little or no long distance a month. The group is encouraging consumers to visit its Web site (.keepUSFfair.org) to sign a Americans are speaking out against higher phone bills. petition that ill automatically be sent to the FCC and to a representative in Congress. According to the Keep USF Fair Web site, a monthly flat fee shifts the burden of the USF to those it as created to help. The group says the changed policy ould affect millions of people, including: Consumers ho use little or no long distance a month Consumers ith lo monthly incomes Consumers ith fixed incomes Residential consumers Consumers ith multiple phones Consumers ho use prepaid ireless plans. For more information or to send a letter to the FCC and your representative, visit the Web site .keepUSFfair.org.
