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Passing responsibilities down to lower levels of government should be undertaken primarily to place services closer to the people being served and to maximize administrative

Deficit-reduction efforts should avoid cuts in programs that serve low- and moderate-income populations. 

The federal government must strive for long-term fiscal balance.

Federal policymakers should develop a comprehensive system for financing Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) that includes a new social insurance program to provide a basic level of LTSS.

Ideally, the federal government should finance LTSS through a universal, comprehensive, and publicly administered program such as Medicare or similar social insurance program of shared risk. <

Policymakers should adopt robust service standards and consumer protections to ensure fair terms and conditions for all essential utility and telecommunications services.

Policymakers should adopt and enforce network reliability and resiliency standards for utility and telecommunications services. 

Policymakers should ensure by default that customers’ personal data are secured against unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. This includes information on usage, billing

Privacy disclosures for utility services should be transparent and understandable.

Federal and state policymakers should establish independent utility consumer advocate offices.