Benton's Thoughts on the Future of the Universal Service Fund

Acting on instruction from Congress in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Federal Communications Commission has invited comment on the effect of the Infrastructure Act on Universal Service Fund (USF) programs and how the FCC can reach its goals of universal deployment, affordability, adoption, availability, and equitable access to broadband throughout the United States. In a filing at the FCC, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society offered its insights on how the investments and policy decisions Congress has made over the past two years can and should impact the FCC's mission. Major points include:

  1. The FCC cannot read past critical language in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
  2. Congress has identified vulnerable communities and populations on which to concentrate Universal Service efforts.
  3. The Future of Universal Service Report should offer an overarching plan to ensure everyone in the US can make use of affordable, high-performance broadband.
  4. Broadband at 25/3 Mbps speeds no longer supports advanced functions.
  5. The FCC should adopt a new definition of Universal Service that includes both fixed and mobile broadband services.
  6. The FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program and the NTIA's Broadband, Equity, Acces and Deployment Program should ensure affordable broadband service for even the lowest-income households.
  7. The Lifeline Program is ripe for reform and modernization.
  8. The FCC must embrace competition in USF.
  9. The FCC must reevaluate its measure of affordability.
  10. The FCC must sustain Universal Service programs.

[Andrew Jay Schwartzman is the Benton Senior Counselor.]


Benton's Thoughts on the Future of the Universal Service Fund