{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-fcc-investigation-into-sandwich-isles-communications", "Schatz Statement on FCC Investigation into Sandwich Isles Communications", "2016-12-05", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Schatz Statement on FCC Investigation into Sandwich Isles Communications \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, December 5, 2016\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013\u00a0U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i), ranking member of the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, issued the following statement in response to the Federal Communications Commission\u2019s (FCC) announcement relating to Sandwich Isles Communications\u2019 (SIC) improper use of Universal Service Funds.\u00a0\r\n\u201cI fully support the FCC\u2019s efforts to combat waste, fraud, and abuse of the Universal Service Fund by Sandwich Isles Communications.\u00a0 The mishandling of these funds is morally and legally unacceptable, and I expect SIC to fully comply with the order without disruptions in service or additional costs to their customers on Hawaiian Home Lands.\u00a0\r\n\u201cAt the core of the nation\u2019s communications policies is\u00a0the idea that all Americans deserve to have access to communications services \u2013 especially broadband.\u00a0 The Universal Service Fund was\u00a0created in an effort to ensure universal service and provides essential support to communications companies to provide telephone and broadband service in hard-to-serve areas of our country. As an island state with many rural communities, we understand the economic and social importance of telephone and broadband service and the need\u00a0for a robust universal service support system.\u00a0 But those companies who accept support from the fund must be good stewards of that money and use it appropriately.\r\n\u201cI have contacted FCC Chairman Wheeler to request his personal attention to this issue in order to ensure that customers are not made victims of SIC\u2019s mishandling of funds. I am confident the FCC will apply all of its statutory and regulatory powers to protect customers on Hawaiian Home Lands from disruptions in service in this case.\u201d\r\nClick here\u00a0to read Sen. Schatz\u2019s letter to FCC Chairman Wheeler.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-fcc-investigation-into-sandwich-isles-communications"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5959148295223713, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}