Rural

FCC Chair Offers Few Specifics on Universal Service Reforms

NTCA’s Bloomfield worries Carr’s push for USF ‘efficiency’ could hurt rural providers

Jericho Casper

Nov 18, 2025 — 3 min read

Photo of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr with NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield at NTCA's Telecom Executive Policy Summit on Nov. 18, 2025 by Mike Romano/NTCA.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2025 – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr declined Tuesday to outline specific reforms being considered for the Universal Service Fund, only broadly calling for “efficiencies” to be driven out of what he deemed a legacy program.

NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield pressed Carr three separate times for specifics, including where Carr stands on reforming who contributes to the $8.5 billion fund. Speaking to a roomful of rural broadband officials, Carr said the FCC has “limited authority” to expand who pays in.

“I think we have to acknowledge there is limited authority for the FCC to go beyond the existing base,” Carr said when asked whether he still supported expanding contributions to large technology platforms. He spoke at a policy summit hosted by NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association at the Royal Sonesta in Washington.

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Rural Brendan Carr Shirley Bloomfield Roslyn Layton Ted Cruz FCC NTCA USF Lowering Broadband Costs for Consumers

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