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A bill to require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study and submit a report on filing requirements under the Universal Service Fund programs.

Introduced: January 16, 2019 Introduced by: Sullivan, Dan Republican · Alaska See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 16, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Jan 16, 2019
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

This bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Congress on the filing requirements for telecommunications carriers or service providers that receive Universal Service Fund program support to provide service to qualifying low-income consumers, rural or high-cost areas, rural health care providers, schools, or libraries. The report must analyze the financial impact of those filing requirements and provide any recommendations on how to consolidate redundant filing requirements.

After receiving the GAO report, the FCC must initiate a rulemaking to consolidate redundant filing requirements and incorporate any of the reported recommendations.

What's happening now January 16, 2019

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 711 Identical bill To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study and submit a report on filing requirements u…
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 161: A bill to require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study and submit a report on filing requirements under the Universal Service Fund programs.. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-161/
MLA
"S. 161: A bill to require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study and submit a report on filing requirements under the Universal Service Fund programs.." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-161/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 161, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-161/.
Markdown link
[S. 161: A bill to require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study and submit a report on filing requirements under the Universal Service Fund programs.](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-161/)
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