SHLB Presses Congress to Strengthen and Modernize USF

The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition submitted comments to the Universal Service Fund (USF) Working Group, urging Congress to preserve and improve the USF as the nation’s most effective and essential broadband fund that connects anchor institutions nationwide. SHLB’s comments outline several steps to strengthen and modernize the fund, including:

• Preserving and strengthening E-Rate and RHC programs while streamlining their administration.
• Expanding the USF contribution base to stabilize the funding mechanism, while rejecting proposals to subject USF to the annual appropriations process.
• Establishing multi-gigabit benchmarks for schools, libraries, and health clinics to meet growing speed and bandwidth demand.
• Supporting cybersecurity protections for schools, libraries, and health clinics.