U.S. Sens. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and John Thune (R-S.D.), who serve as co-chairs of the Universal Service Fund (USF) Working Group, announced the commencement of a 30-day period for the public to submit comments to the USF Working Group in a press release on July 27. The deadline for submitting comments is set for Aug. 25, providing stakeholders and the public with an opportunity to provide their input to the Working Group on relevant matters pertaining to the Universal Service Fund according to a press release.
"The Universal Service Fund plays an essential role in keeping our schools, hospitals, rural communities, and historically underserved populations connected," Luján said, according to the release.
The USF Working Group, also comprising Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), aims to gather insights from advocates, industry representatives, and local communities regarding the current status of federal programs funded through universal service according to the release.
“The Universal Service Fund plays an essential role in keeping our schools, hospitals, rural communities, and historically underserved populations connected," Luján said, according to the release. "To meet the Universal Service Fund’s mandate—to provide truly universal service to every household in America—the programs and funding mechanism must be updated and improved to meet the needs of tomorrow. I look forward to hearing from experts, telecommunications providers, anchor institutions, and communities from across the country on how USF can best serve those who need it most and close the digital divide once and for all.”
These efforts follow a Subcommittee hearing titled "The State of Universal Service," chaired by Luján and Thune in May, where experts and stakeholders discussed necessary reforms to enhance these programs,. The feedback received during the comment period will play a crucial role in shaping the USF Working Group's future initiatives and decisions according to the release.
“Universal service is a bipartisan principle that has long been the bedrock of our nation’s communications policies, and programs that efficiently and effectively strengthen its underlying goal have contributed to advancements in health care, education, and economic development,” Thune said, according to the release. “Our working group is seeking feedback on the regulatory structure of the Universal Service Fund in order to help inform our decisions on how to best ensure Americans in rural parts of the country have access to communications services.”
“When we invest in broadband infrastructure, we invest in opportunities for all Americans. That is why I am excited to hear from people who share the same mission,” Klobuchar said, according to a press release. “As co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus and as a member of Universal Service Fund Working Group, I’m fighting to help all Americans reliably access the high-speed internet they need.”
“The USF serves a critical purpose in ensuring communities in West Virginia and across the country are connected with reliable internet access. I look forward to hearing from stakeholders about potential solutions to ensuring the USF is updated, sustainable, and that future programs are feasible,” Capito said, according to a press release.
“The Universal Service Fund helps support high-speed internet in rural and underserved areas across our country, including in Michigan,” said Peters said, according to the release. “This effort will help us ensure this program is strong for years to come and find solutions to expand access to reliable high-speed internet in our state and across the country.”