Congress Should Fix USF, Not Just Save It, Says ITIF

WASHINGTON-Following the ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit that the Universal Service Fund's administrative structure violates federal law, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy, released the following statement from Joe Kane, ITIF's director of broadband and spectrum policy:

The Universal Service Fund's structure is back in legal jeopardy. When Congress responds to the court's ruling, it should fix more than USF's administrative design. Congress should sunset the outdated High-Cost program and replace it with a more effective low-income benefit, funded with general revenue. Paired with a clear statutory basis for the fund's administration, those reforms would put USF on firm legal footing, do more to close the digital divide, and cost consumers less.

Contact: Austin Slater, [email protected]