Telecommunication

Optical vendors Corning, AFL, Lightera and Prysmian released a joint statement

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).

The Federal Communications Commission adopted rules that will allow providers to retire their decades-old and increasingly expensive copper line networks, freeing up tens of billions of dollars annually for the rollout of upgraded, high-speed networks to more Americans. The Report and Order takes several actions to bring the regulatory environment in line with today’s communications marketplace, while retaining or adopting safeguards to protect public safety and ensure continuity of 911 services.

The Federal Communications Commission voted to launch a new proceeding looking into the use of offshore call centers. The FCC will seek comment on proposals that would encourage businesses to bring call center jobs back to the U.S.

Verizon will beef up its multiple-dwelling unit business organically with its own fixed wireless access (FWA) platform and its recent addition of Starry. Verizon just wrapped up its acquisition of Starry, said Verizon EVP and CFO Tony Skiadas. Verizon announced the deal last October.

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.

March 10, 2026, marks the 150th anniversary of Alexander Graham Bell’s first telephone call. His words—“Mr. Watson, come here; I want to see you.”—were simple but launched a revolution in human connectivity.

Exactly 150 years ago, Alexander Graham Bell made the world’s first phone call. “Come here,” he shouted into the fuzzy, one-way phone line at his partner Thomas Watson. “I want you!” (He had spilled acid on himself.) With these words, he sparked a revolution in ordinary life. As the telephone spread, people could call for help when their home caught on fire, talk to a doctor if their child was sick or simply speak with someone more than a block away.

Across the country, policymakers are reexamining outdated telecommunications rules that no longer reflect how Americans communicate. Recently, the Federal Communications Commission took another big step toward speeding our nation’s transition to modern digital networks, joining the more than two dozen states who have made this progress a priority. This requires reforming decades-old state rules, such as “Carrier of Last Resort,” that require phone companies to spend billions maintaining outdated copper networks rather than focusing on faster, stronger networks consumers actually use.

Protecting consumers is central to the Federal Communications Commission’s Build America Agenda. And given that we are in the midst of National Consumer Protection Week, we thought the March meeting would be a particularly opportune time to advance several items designed to benefit you, the consumer. That is why we will be voting to improve the customer experience at call centers, accelerate the upgrade to modern network infrastructure, and further crack down on illegal robocalls. We’re moving forward with an agenda that puts American consumers first—improving service, protecting public dol