Attempt To Overhaul Colorado Telecom Subsidy Fails

DENVER (AP) — Lawmakers trying to overhaul a $54 million annual payout to Colorado telecom companies killed their own legislation amid disagreement over what to do with the funds.

Republican Sen. Mark Scheffel says there was also little time to handle complex legislation that had sat on the legislative calendar for six weeks. Scheffel says it is "ludicrous" to expect lawmakers to debate the bill now with four days before they adjourn.

Part of the reason for the delay was that lawmakers couldn't agree on how much of the subsidy should be shifted to developing broadband in rural areas.

Ratepayers pay into the subsidy to support telephone service in hard-to-reach areas. Some lawmakers argue some of those places no longer need the subsidy.

The bill killed Friday would gradually eliminate the subsidy by 2025.

By Ivan Moreno, AP Writer(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)