July 24, 2024
In response to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit decision in the Consumers’ Research petition on the constitutionality of the mechanism for contributions to the federal Universal Service Fund, the Competitive Carriers Association, NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, and USTelecom–The Broadband Association released the following statement.
“The Universal Service Fund has been, and continues to be, a critical tool to narrow the digital divide and help address connectivity gaps. The court’s decision today deals a severe blow to these efforts and could put at risk the availability and affordability of essential communications services for millions of rural Americans, low-income consumers, and community anchor institutions. We steadfastly believe that the Universal Service Fund is constitutional and we will continue to fight for universal connectivity.”