Fourteen members of Congress urge FCC not to cap the Universal Service Fund

Fourteen members of Congress urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)  to respect the unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and not cap the Universal Service Fund (USF) or combine the cap of any of the USF programs. The USF supports programs like Lifeline, which makes modern communications more affordable for low-income families, the E-rate subsidies to schools and libraries, and the Connect America Fund, which facilitates broadband buildout to rural communities. These are vital programs.

“The USF programs were not intended to compete against each other for funding and pitting them against each other for funding does nothing to advance the goal of achieving universal service,” said the Congressional letter signed by Reps. Pocan (D-NJ), Axne (D-IA), Bishop Jr. (D-GA), Bustos (D-IL), Butterfield (D-NC), Clyburn (D-SC), Cox (D-CA), Craig (D-MN), Khanna (D-CA), Kind (D-WI), Kirkpatrick (D-AZ), McGovern (D-MN), Omar (D-MI), and Welch (D-VT). 

Last month, CWA and more than 60 organizations – including the ACLU, Common Cause, NAACP, and The Leadership Conference – opposed the FCC’s proposal to cap the Universal Service Fund. 

Links:

Congressional letter to FCC Commissioners on Universal Service Fund (US House, July 9, 2019)

CWA and 60 organizations oppose FCC proposal to cap the Universal Service Fund (Speed Matters, June 14, 2019)