House Bill 408 Summary

• Repeals Section 62-610 of Idaho Code relating to the original universal service fund and restructures the universal service funding mechanism effective January 1, 2018.

• Expands the definition of "communications service" to include cable service, video service, broadband, and high-speed internet access in addition to traditional telecommunication services.

• Establishes a uniform surcharge not to exceed 20 cents per month on all retail communication services to fund the Idaho communications universal service fund collected by service providers.

• Requires the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to designate eligible communications carriers and geographic service and support areas to ensure all consumers statewide have access to basic local exchange service and broadband at reasonable rates.

• Creates a transition period through January 1, 2018 for rural telephone companies to transition from previous funding mechanisms under Section 62-610 to the new forward-looking cost methodology-based funding system.