The 119th Congress re-convened the Universal Service Fund (USF) Working Group co-chaired by Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chair of the Senate Telecommunications and Media Subcommittee, and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ranking Member.
A Request for Comments (RFC) portal was opened and NATOA submitted these comments. The RFC posed questions about the efficacy and effectiveness of the USF and modernization of the USG and its programs and the future outlook of the USF in the near and long terms.
The Working Group's release noted that this bipartisan, bicameral working group—originally launched in 2023—was established to evaluate and propose potential reforms to the USF with the goal of developing a forum to guide education, awareness, and policymaking. The USF Working Group highlights the continued commitment to close the digital divide with solutions that support sustained access to universal connectivity while improving interagency coordination and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse.
Given the unsustainability of the current USF funding scheme to support existing programs, NATOA urged the Working Group members to explore as broad a scope as possible of potential resources and avenues to expand the base of USF contributors to include the mobile and fixed broadband and internet access services (BIAS) providers and edge service providers.
We urge Congress and the FCC to explore ways to expand local government engagement in USF programs, including infrastructure and network deployment funding and support; active participation of local governments as direct funding recipients; and engaging local governments as partners.
NATOA USF Working Group Comments
NATOA submits Comments to the Universal Service Fund (USF) Working Group
The 119th Congress re-convened the Universal Service Fund (USF) Working Group co-chaired by Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chair of the Senate Telecommunications and Media Subcommittee, and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ranking Member.
A Request for Comments (RFC) portal was opened and NATOA submitted these comments. The RFC posed questions about the efficacy and effectiveness of the USF and modernization of the USG and its programs and the future outlook of the USF in the near and long terms.
The Working Group's release noted that this bipartisan, bicameral working group—originally launched in 2023—was established to evaluate and propose potential reforms to the USF with the goal of developing a forum to guide education, awareness, and policymaking. The USF Working Group highlights the continued commitment to close the digital divide with solutions that support sustained access to universal connectivity while improving interagency coordination and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse.
Given the unsustainability of the current USF funding scheme to support existing programs, NATOA urged the Working Group members to explore as broad a scope as possible of potential resources and avenues to expand the base of USF contributors to include the mobile and fixed broadband and internet access services (BIAS) providers and edge service providers.
We urge Congress and the FCC to explore ways to expand local government engagement in USF programs, including infrastructure and network deployment funding and support; active participation of local governments as direct funding recipients; and engaging local governments as partners.
NATOA USF Working Group Comments
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