FCC’s Trusty Looks to Universal Service's Next Phase
Trusty pointed to lessons from recent trips across the country as she considers the FCC’s approach to rural connectivity.
August 26, 2026 — Federal Communications Commissioner Olivia Trusty said the Universal Service Fund’s future should include a focus on keeping broadband networks running after federal dollars have helped build them.
Speaking at the Technology Policy Institute conference in Aspen, Colorado, Trusty said the FCC is considering how the roughly $8 billion-a-year Universal Service Fund can sustain networks once deployment is complete. The comments come as the commission undertakes a broader review of the fund and its administration.
