Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) Wednesday introduced a bill in the U.S. Senate that would revise the Universal Service Fund to require recipients to invest in broadband services and seek to stop waste and abuse of USF funding and improve use of telecom technology to improve rural health care.

The Internet and Universal Service Act of 2006 or "NetUSA" act, as Burns dubbed it, is intended to encourage "broadband deployment in every corner of the U.S. and preserving and improving Universal Service," Burns said on the floor of the Senate, in introducing the measure, S. 2256. The senator said he would work with other legislators to develop the specifics of "creative solutions" on how to fund technology deployment in rural areas.

NetUSA would also "ensure that universal service support contributions are assessed in a fair and competitively neutral manner," Burns said it would impose sanctions on anyone who knowingly violates the terms of programs such as the Schools and Libraries Program, a technology funding effort that has been widely criticized for abuse and fraud.

Burns stressed the importance of broadband Internet access in rural areas, where there is less access to doctors, and where continued economic development and education quality depend on better broadband.

He acknowledged the need for changes in USF funding and distribution.

"As consumers switch to new technologies like wireless service, e-mail and VoIP, Universal Service is slowly taking in less money each year," Burns said on the Senate floor. "At the same time, the amount of money distributed by the fund is increasing. This situation is obviously not sustainable. Additionally, we need to ensure the Universal Service is distributed where it's needed. In revising Universal Service to adapt to the changing technology landscape, it's essential to maintain commitment levels to Universal Service programs to foster the continued availability of telecom and advanced services in rural communities and to strengthen and improve the overall fund."

USTelecom President and CEO Walter McCormick said in a prepared statement that his organization applauds Burns' initiative and looks forward to working with the senator "on an extremely complex and critical issue."