1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “USF Equitable Distribution Act of 2013”.
USF Equitable Distribution Act of 2013
A BILL
To provide for the equitable distribution of Universal Service funds to rural States.
2. Distribution of Universal Service funds
Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(m) Distribution of Universal Service funds
“(1) In general—Not less than 75 percent of all amounts collected by providers of interstate telecommunications from consumers in a rural State for the purpose of making contributions under subsection (d) shall be allocated to the provision of universal service to consumers in that rural State.
“(2) Rural State—In this subsection, the term rural State means a State in which the total population density is not more than 200 people per square mile, as determined by the latest available decennial census conducted under section 141(a) of title 13, United States Code.
“(3) Amounts collected—Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as requiring an increase in amounts collected by providers of interstate telecommunications from consumers for the purpose of making contributions under subsection (d).”