Using Technology and Innovation to Address Our Nation's Critical Challenges
Building Broadband Into Universal Service
Building Broadband Into Universal Service
Benton believes the Federal Communications Commission must immediately take steps to fundamentally modernize universal service and transition – over a five-year period – the focus of our universal service support system from traditional, telephone-centered, “narrowband” to digital broadband based on a fair and reasonable balance of principles adopted by Congress and the Commission. This transition is not only achievable and worthwhile; it is required by law.
Universal Service Goals:
Ensuring Affordability – Access to broadband infrastructure and the essential communications services carried over them should be available and affordable to all consumers in all areas. Universal service support should be used to both build broadband infrastructure in rural areas and to make access more affordable for low-income consumers.
Bolstering Competition – The universal service support system will be most efficient and consumers will benefit most when there is competition between those who can 1) receive USF support to build broadband infrastructure and 2) provide services over the broadband connections to give consumers more choices. DSL, cable, fiber and other broadband technology providers should be able to compete side by side to provide broadband at the designated speeds, at the most affordable cost.
Achieving Technological Neutrality -- A competitive marketplace can best direct the advancement of technology and benefit consumers. The necessary balance between universal service policy and competition requires that all consumers are served by the most efficient technology and carrier. The universal service support system should never limit carriers to obsolete or inefficient technology.
Integrating Voice, Broadband and Mobility as Interrelated Goals -- Voice, broadband and mobility are interrelated, not separate, goals. These goals can be most effectively achieved by transitioning tradition telephone subsidies to two broadband-centric support funds – one for wireline broadband and one for wireless mobility data access.
Phasing Out Legacy Charges that Impede Broadband Rollout -- Charging consumers based on criteria such as time of call, time of day, distance of call, local vs. long-distance, and length of conversation no longer make sense as communication enters the global, digital broadband world. Telephone subsidies and access charges that are time-sensitive and/or geographically constrained impede broadband infrastructure rollout and should be eliminated.
Preventing Duplicate Subsidies – Since consumers fund the universal service support system, costs should be kept low. Support should be targeted to areas that lack multiple service providers that offer affordable, high quality service to the public. Support should not be provided in areas where consumers have access to affordable wireline and wireless broadband infrastructure offered by one or more unsubsidized carriers.
Ensuring Adequate Speed -- Publicly-supported broadband networks should have the capacity to deliver a host of applications. Only deployment of high-speed broadband networks capable of supporting competitive voice services should be eligible for universal service support. Over time, the FCC should increase the minimum speeds that are supported and support only those services that offer symmetrical downstream and upstream speeds.
Fostering Open Networks – The FCC has a duty to preserve and promote the vibrant and open character of the Internet as the telecommunications marketplace enters the Broadband Age. Broadband infrastructure receiving USF support must ensure users can obtain and use the content, applications, and devices they choose. Consumers are entitled to competition among network providers, application and service providers, and content providers. Therefore, to ensure these benefits to consumers, these networks should be competitively built and provide open access.
Enabling Public Safety in a Broadband World – Embedded in U.S. communications law is a commitment to public safety. The FCC should ensure that the connection to the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) that enables the region’s customers to dial 911 is also upgraded from analog, telephone service to Internet Protocol- (“IP”) based broadband technology. This will help ensure that as consumers in these areas migrate to broadband-enabled voice service they can benefit from broadband-enabled 911 capabilities.