TIA vigorously supports pending FCC proposals that call for updates to the Universal Service Fund (USF), including the establishment of a separate funding mechanism for broadband services. TIA believes these changes will facilitate widespread build-out of broadband networks throughout the United States and ensure that consumers in underserved and unserved areas can also benefit from next-generation products and services.
As part of its comments, TIA urges the commission to create a separate technology- and competitively-neutral broadband fund that will grow as funds are transitioned from support for narrowband services. Additionally, TIA argues that these funds should be supported via reverse auctions or other neutral market-based funding mechanisms that will be more equitable than current processes.
The goals of Universal Service, mandated by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, are to increase the accessibility and affordability of advanced telecommunications service throughout the United States. The USF subsidizes the provisioning of such services to all consumers, including those in low income, rural, insular and high cost areas, at rates that are reasonably comparable to those charged in urban areas.
“Transitioning the Universal Service Fund to include broadband support is of great importance to our members,” stated TIA President Grant Seiffert. “The deployment of high-capacity broadband networks impacts investment in and deployment of next-generation networks, applications and devices across the United States and is one of TIA's broadband deployment goals.”
For more information about TIA’s government affairs initiatives, please contact Danielle Coffey at dcoffey@tiaonline.org.
< Back to Top > |
