SHLB Coalition and Partners File Brief Defending Universal Service Fund in the Fifth Circuit

The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) and MediaJustice filed a joint brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit defending the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF) against a renewed legal challenge brought by Consumers' Research and other petitioners. SHLB and its fellow intervenors argue that the challenge brought by Consumers’ Research fails because the statutory provisions at issue contain the same kinds of constraints the Supreme Court already upheld, including the requirement that the FCC's support mechanisms be "sufficient" and "economically reasonable." As the brief states: "Although Petitioners continue to press a nondelegation argument, they have learned none of the lessons from the Supreme Court's decision in their prior challenge." SHLB and its partners seek the same outcome in this case as the FCC.