RUS: Universal Service Fund Support Key to National Broadband Plan

The Department of Agriculture submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to support development of the National Broadband Plan based on the Department's considerable experience in financing broadband projects in rural areas.

The FCC is implementing the plan to guide broadband deployment nationwide. Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Administrator Jonathan Adelstein submitted a letter in which he offered to make RUS data available to the FCC as the Commission evaluates policy options to advance broadband deployment. He noted that RUS loan financing to rural telecommunications providers is "dependent on sufficient, specific and predictable revenues to ensure that all Americans enjoy the benefits of modern telecommunications technology." Only four out of the current 480 RUS telecommunications program borrowers do not receive federal universal service support for high cost areas. Adelstein said that the two agencies can work together to ensure that the "right mix of incentives are available to attract private sector investment into otherwise uneconomic areas."