Universal Service
Among Friends, Boucher Stays on Message at CDT Gala
WASHINGTON, March 11, 2009 – As 700 of Washington’s technology and political elite gathered Tuesday night at the Center for Democracy and Technology’s annual fundraising gala, guests celebrated new-found progress and the hope brought by a new administration, but called for further action to fulfill many of the organization’s longstanding goals.
WASHINGTON, March 11, 2009 – As 700 of Washington’s technology and political elite gathered Tuesday night at the Center for Democracy and Technology’s annual fundraising gala, guests celebrated new-found progress and the hope brought by a new administration, but called for further action to fulfill many of the organization’s longstanding goals.
The highlight of the evening was a keynote delivered by Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va., the newly-minted chairman of the House subcommittee on Technology, Communications and the Internet, who praised CDT for its efforts at promoting “open communications…and open technology.”
Boucher marveled at the “state of transition” that the Internet is bringing to technology today. But “the time could not be more ripe,” for groups like CDT to help Congress enact policies to keep it “open, innovative and free.”
Boucher identified three issues of importance that he will push in the 111th Congress. Congress must pass privacy legislation to protect users from techniques like deep packet inspection. Consumers must have confidence that their data will be safe, that can be ensured by laws that “promote and safeguard the users’ online experience.”
And despite the economic stimulus package’s inclusion of $7.2 billion for broadband deployment, Boucher cautioned that stimulus funds alone “are not a policy.” “For the sake of our economy, we must do alot more for communities that have limited access to broadband.”
The Federal Communications Commission can take a lead in enacting “necessary policy reforms” that can ensure rural Americans get access to quality broadband. The stimulus package requires the FCC to develop a national broadband strategy within the year.
The commission may be able to take an even greater role in broadband deployment. Thursday morning, Boucher will hold a hearing on reform of the Universal Service Fund, which provides subsidies that enable low income and rural Americans to receive telephone service.
Many stakeholders, including consumer groups, telecommunications companies and equipment manufacturers, have submitted comments to the FCC supporting a proposal to expand certain USF funded programs to include broadband Internet service. The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners endorsed the proposal at their winter meeting last month.
And Boucher called for a federal journalist shied law to keep reporters from having to reveal sources in court. The law must “protect journalists’ sources and the public’s right to know,” he said.
12 Days of Broadband
How Long Will it Take Congress to Revamp the Universal Service Fund?
Critics urged the FCC to expand the fund’s contribution sources, but the agency chose to punt the decision to Congress.
FCC
Chairman Pallone Says Service Providers May Be Abusing ACP
‘These reports detail problems customers have faced,” wrote Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone

WASHINGTON, October 26, 2022 – Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., D-N.J., sent letters to thirteen leading internet service providers requesting information on potential “abusive, misleading, fraudulent, or otherwise predatory behaviors” engaged in through the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program and the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Pallone, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, expressed concern over allegations that providers are conducting business in violation of the programs’ requirements. Pallone cites as evidence several stories, including pieces from The Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post.
“These reports detail problems customers have faced, including either having their benefits initiated, transferred to a new provider, or changed to a different plan without their knowledge or consent,” Pallone wrote.
“Other customers have reported a delay in the application of the benefit or a requirement to opt-in to future full-price service, which has resulted in surprise bills that have been sent to collection agencies.”
“There have also been reports of aggressive upselling of more expensive offerings, requirements that customers accept slower speed service tiers, and other harmful and predatory practices,” he added.
Pallone asked the providers for several categories of records, including each company’s number of benefit recipients, complaint-resolution protocols, degree of knowledge of incorrect customer bills, protections against upselling, and more. Letter recipients include AT&T, Comcast, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
The ACP, established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 and overseen by the Federal Communications Commission, subsidizes monthly internet bills and device purchases for low-income applicants. Non-tribal enrollees qualify for discounts of up to $30 per month, and qualifying enrollees on tribal lands for discounts of up to $75 per month. Enrollees also qualify for one-time discounts of $100 on qualifying device purchases.
The EBB program was the predecessor to the ACP.
The ACP, a favorite of many politicians and federal entities, including the White House, is no stranger to controversy. In September, the FCC Office of Inspector General issued a report that found the ACP doled out over $1 million in “improper payments” to service providers due to “fraudulent enrollment practice[s].”
Universal Service
Lines Are Sharpening Over Who Drives the Future of Universal Service: Congress or Broadband Providers?
Big communications companies want Congress to tax telecom, while many others want higher fees on broadband service.

CRYSTAL CITY, Va., October 14, 2022 – Should contributions to the Universal Service Fund originate from Congress or from fees paid by communications companies to an agency responsible to the Federal Communications Commission? A panel of experts speaking Friday at AnchorNets 2022 debated this issue.
The Universal Service Fund, created in 1997 to improve telecommunications connectivity nationwide, is funded primarily by voice-based services. In recent years, voice-based subscriptions have substantially dropped, creating a revenue crisis and leaving remaining voice-based customers to foot a climbing per-person USF bill.
To rectify this imbalance, industry players have proposed a variety of new funding sources. The two core options are direct taxation by Congress, or by broadening the base of the USF.
The latter option would require broadband providers to contribute to levies collected by the Universal Service Administrative Company, a non-profit entity accountable to the FCC.
Urging Need for FCC Action on Universal Service Fund, Expert Says Congress Too Slow
Speaking at the Friday conference of the Schools, Health and Library Broadband Coalition, Greg Guice, director of government affairs at Public Knowledge, argued that the FCC has the legal authority to require broadband service providers to contribute to the USF.
“The language of the statute says every carrier shall contribute and any other provider of telecommunications that the Commission decides may contribute to Universal Service,” he said.
Angie Kronenberg, chief advocate and general counsel at industry trade group INCOMPAS, said Congress shouldn’t be relied upon for intervention: “It is very helpful when Congress recognizes that there is a problem and is willing to appropriate, but that is not a sustainable, predictable model.”
Petition Challenges Constitutionality of Roles FCC, USAC Play in Universal Service Fund
The USF has of late made substantial investments in broadband projects, and many industry experts say broadband services should be required to contribute thereto. In August, however, the FCC declined to unilaterally reform the fund’s contribution system and asked Congress to review the matter.
“On review, there is significant ambiguity in the record regarding the scope of the Commission’s existing authority to broaden the base of contributors,” the Commission’s report stated.
Alex Minard, vice president and state legislative counsel at NCTA – The Internet and Television Association, suggested Congress should be the driver of USF reform.
Policy Groups Want Bigger Contribution Base to Shore Up the Future of the Universal Service Fund
“Maybe the FCC does have the legal authority – maybe – to include broadband revenues,” said Minard. “If we’re going to…newly tax such a significant part of the economy, maybe it’s Congress that should be making this decision, and not an independent federal regulatory agency.”
Minard also argued the need for USF reform is less urgent than some believe. “It has been in crisis for 20 years,” he said. “What’s a little bit longer?”
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