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Senate passes Wyoming Telecommunications Act revisions after debate over universal service fund
Summary
The Wyoming Senate adopted amendments and passed Senate File 51 on third reading after debate over the universal service fund benchmark and whether the subsidy should be set at $30, $35 or $40 per line for rural customers.
The Wyoming Senate on Jan. 28 adopted amendments and passed Senate File 51, a package of revisions to the Wyoming Telecommunications Act that includes changes to the universal service subsidy for rural telephone service.
Senator Curt Landon, sponsor of a third‑reading amendment, said the provision concerns the Universal Fund that helps carriers recover costs to serve remote areas. "This universal service fund is all about a process by which the telecommunication company ... can submit the proper paperwork, to be refunded for the cost of getting service all the way out there to the rural reaches of our state," Senator Landon said.
The debate focused on the dollar amount used as a price benchmark. Landon moved an amendment to revert a recently changed $40 benchmark back to $30 as written in statute, arguing the Public Service Commission should conduct any larger change via its review process. "So that's why I suggest this amendment to take this back to the $30 threshold," Landon said. Senator Case urged colleagues to resist that change, noting the $30 figure dated to 2015 and warning a return to $30 would reduce the size of the universal service fund by roughly half and could shift costs to rural customers.
Senator Case later offered a compromise amendment raising the benchmark to $35 and preserving a single‑line subsidy per household. The body divided the third‑reading amendment into two parts; the Senate adopted the single‑line provision (division 1) and then the price compromise (division 2), and later adopted the full compromise amendment on the floor.
Senator Scott and other members said the bill preserves state regulatory primacy over federal oversight and gives districts and companies room to adapt. After the amendments were adopted, the Senate called a standing division and then a roll call on final passage. The chief clerk recorded a final tally of 22 ayes, 7 no, 2 excused on Senate File 51. "Senate file 51, 22 I, 7 no, 2 excused," the clerk announced.
The bill returns to the next steps required under Senate rules following third reading and passage in the Senate.
Votes at a glance for the day's final‑passage items and consent calendar are reported separately.
