Contact: Lauren Gaydos, 703-351-2015
Arlington, Va., (February 18, 2022)—In comments filed with the FCC yesterday on the future of the Universal Service Fund (USF), NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association encouraged the commission to recommit to the broader mission of universal service to both get and keep all Americans connected.
As more grant programs are established to deploy broadband networks, NTCA noted that the USF must be used to both enable network construction and sustain those networks and the services offered atop them for the benefit of American consumers.
Specifically, NTCA urged the commission to:
- Define its broadband universal service goals as "universal deployment, affordability, availability, and equitable and sustainable access to broadband," consistent with principles of the Communications Act;
- Coordinate with other federal and state agencies and recognize the unique role USF programs play in grant and loan programs administered by other entities;
- Take steps to achieve and sustain universal service by aiming for service level commitments that extend beyond deployment initiatives;
- Recalibrate USF programs for a sustainable future by anticipating the needs of consumers over networks' useful lives;
- Reinvigorate the Lifeline program by providing consumers with flexibility in how they use the support as a complement to the Affordable Connectivity Program; and
- Promote the sustainability of and equity within the USF contribution system by including fixed and mobile broadband Internet access revenues in the contribution base and ultimately requiring contributions as well from large businesses that depend heavily on the availability of affordable broadband services.
“We are thrilled that broadband deployment has become a priority for policymakers—but we cannot forget that it is equally important to sustain those networks once they are deployed and keep services affordable,” said NTCA Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield. “It’s time to put the ‘service’ back in universal service and to consider how the USF can both get and keep Americans connected. We encourage the FCC to use this proceeding to refocus on this broader mission of universal service, and we look forward to continuing to work with policymakers to ensure that future generations of Americans have access to robust and affordable broadband internet access.”
In addition, NTCA jointly filed comments on the future of USF with the Competitive Carriers Association and USTelecom specifically regarding the constitutionality of the contribution regime.
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NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is the premier association representing nearly 850 independent, community-based telecommunications companies that are leading innovative change in smart rural communities across America. In an era of transformative technological developments, regulatory challenges and marketplace competition, NTCA members are advancing efforts to close the digital divide by delivering robust and high-quality services over future-proof networks. Their commitment to building sustainable networks makes rural communities fertile ground for innovation in economic development, e-commerce, health care, agriculture and education, and it contributes billions of dollars to the U.S. economy each year. Visit us at www.ntca.org.