our guest is meredith attwell baker, guest reporter eliza crigman of politico. next topic. >> host: another issue that you guys are going to be looking at in february is reform of the universal service fund. could you delainuate for us what the agency can do on its own and what it needs congress to legislate? you guys are moving, and it's a little bit technical and confusing. >> guest: it is technically confusing. in fact, i use the word bone-crunchingly confusing. [laughter] it's an $8.8 billion fund. last quarter the contribution factor was 15.5%, and what that means is that it's a 15.5% tax on everyone's phone bill. so it's $8 on a $50 phone bill. that's a lot in an economic challenging time. it's clear that the fund is not sustainable, it's clear that it needs reform, and i think we have commitment from all five of the commissioners to move forward with that. congress is also very interested in this, and if congress has more ideas on how to revise this fund that's been traditionally for telephone for broadband, then, obviously, those ideas are very welcome.

. >> this week on "the communicators," a discussion meredith attwell baker. >> meredith attwell baker is a one of the two republicans who sit on the federal communications commission. if we could start with the vote the fcc took this week, which omcast merger. you were for it. why? >> this is my first time on a merger with the fcc. we have fallen into some pitfalls. comcast filed this merger with us on january 28 of last year. we have an internal clock up 180 days or repaid it is a big merger and we should carefully consider it. we should do it in a more timely manner. manner.

. >> meredith attwell baker is one of the two republicans who sits on the federal communications commission. she's our guest this week on "the communicators." thank you for being with us, commissioner pete >> thanks, it's a pleasure. >> eliza krigman is with us as well. she's with politico as our guest reporter. commissioner, if we could start with a vote that the fcc took this week which is the comcast-nbc merger. with your statement to attached strong reservations to the whole process and the vote itself. why? >> good question. his likely the sec has reviewed mergers and it's taken too long and the attached to many not pertinent conditions to the merger and this is my first time through a merger of the fcc, and unfortunately i would have to say we found the same pitfalls. for instance, comcast deal with this merger with us on janaria 28 of last year. we have an internal shop class of 180 days for review. this is a big merger and should be thoroughly vetted and we should carefully consider it, but i think that we should do it in a more common manner. as far as the conditions go, let's just

. >> meredith attwell baker, one of five fcc commissioners. thank you for been on "the communicators." >> said day on -- sunday on "washington journal," aamer madhani. president elect of the american college counseling association on the growing need for psychiatric sources -- psychiatric services at american colleges and universities. "washington journal" at 7:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. >> david dreier talks about a resolution to cut federal spending to 2008 levels. >> this weekend on "road to the two speeches.," >> your name is now in the present accommodation. you are aware of that. will that continue for months to come? >> i know it is shocking when a girl goes to buy what that that speculation might come along. i am here to be a part of the compensation for 2012. there has been no decision about candidacy. i want to be a part of the compensation. >> watched her speech in its entirety and along with rick at 6:30 p.m.marks and 90 p.m. eastern and pacific. >> this new law is a fiscal house of cards and a year house of cards. >> had any famil

tonight republican fcc commissioner meredith attwell baker on the comcast/nbc merger. the communicators on c-span2. er >> we'll here argument in case 09239, general dynamics versus u.s., and number two boeing company versus united states. mr. phillips. >> thank you. may i please the court. the proposition that we are here challenges adopted and embraced by the federal circumstance cut that says the united states government can declare that contracting partners have operated in default and under those circumstances can reach into the government contractors pocket, withdraw at the time $1.35 billion of moneys that were spent by the united states by for services that were rendered without question to the contract, pursuant to the instructions of the united states government. when the contractor seeks to defend against the claim that it has engaged in default conduct, the government can assert, and in so doing, describe the contractor of the ability effectively to respond to the government's conclusion. under those circumstances, it seems to me that the statement in this d