Libraries

The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition led more than 80 organizations (including the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society) representing schools, libraries, service providers, and education leaders in sending a letter to the Federal Communications Commission urging the agency not to proceed with its proposed competitive bidding portal for the E-Rate program.

Nonprofit broadband provider Mission Telecom unveiled Inseego’s MiFi Pro M4 mobile hotspot, which Mission Telecom is making available for $179. The mobile hotspot provides broadband to Mission Telecom customers—primarily nonprofits, schools, and libraries—with pricing starting at $5.99 per 100 GB line for schools. The hotspot allows users to benefit from high-speed connectivity, enhanced security, and cloud-based device management.

Proposed reforms to a major federal broadband subsidy program are still taking shape on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers are aiming to circulate a discussion draft of legislation that would modernize the $8.5 billion-per-year Universal Service Fund. Meanwhile, the Federal Communications Commission, which manages the fund, is asking for input on whether it should make changes to the nonprofit it delegated accounting and administrative duties to.

The American Library Association and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees have reached a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice that protects the Institute of Museum and Library Services and ensures the agency will continue carrying out its congressionally mandated work. IMLS is the only federal agency dedicated to providing funding for the nation’s libraries.

In 2025, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) continued to advance its mission with a steady commitment to responsible stewardship of Universal Service Fund (USF) resources, strong operational performance, and close collaboration with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

I want to close by reflecting on what we heard, because the arc of [this week] tells a story. We began with Senator Markey reminding us that universal service was never a narrow technical objective. It was, and remains, a moral and democratic claim. Access to education, economic opportunity, civic participation must be available to everyone, regardless of geography, income, age, or background. That is what we are really talking about when we talk about universal connectivity. The means of participation.

At the second panel of the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society’s March 5 “Telecom Act at 30” event, panelists reflected on the legacy of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and what the future holds for universal service.

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 arrived at a pivotal moment in American communications history. For decades, universal service had meant one thing: ensuring that all Americans could access basic telephone service at affordable rates through a system of implicit cross-subsidies managed largely within the monopoly structure of AT&T and its successors. But by the mid-1990s, this model faced twin pressures.

States, territories, and their communities that lack sufficient internet access have been wondering what will happen to the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program's "nondeployment funds"—funds left over after a state meets BEAD’s infrastructure deployment goals.

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 turned 30 years old on February 8, 2026. As one of the principal staffers responsible for drafting the 1996 Act, I am simultaneously proud of our efforts, disappointed with some of its failings, and frustrated by the inconsistent implementation by regulators, yet pleased with our overall progress. The Telecom Act, though far from perfect, helped to usher in a competitive climate that has allowed the U.S. to innovate and lead the world in high-tech.