NTCA Statement on FCC Budget Control Mechanism Order 

NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association issued the following statement on the FCC’s waiver of the Universal Service Fund budget control mechanism for 12 months beginning July 1, 2023: 

“The high-cost Universal Service Fund is critical to support the deployment, affordability, and sustainability of robust communications in rural America,” said NTCA Executive Vice President Mike Romano. “Today’s order will allow rural broadband providers to keep their focus on delivering high-quality, reasonably priced voice and broadband services rather than figuring out where to reduce investments, cut back operations, or raise customer rates in the face of a significant budget cut. On behalf of NTCA members and the communities they serve, I thank the FCC for acting today, and we look forward to continuing efforts to enhance and stabilize the essential high-cost universal service programs for the benefit of all Americans far into the future.”