USF

Policy Experts Consider Future of the Universal Service Fund

Panelists also discussed BEAD at Technology Policy Institute event

Blake Ledbetter

Feb 19, 2025 — 2 min read

Photo of New Street Research Policy Advisor Blair Levin

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 2025 – While the Universal Service Fund (USF) is awaiting a key Supreme Court ruling, policy and economic experts discussed strategies to change the broadband policies of universal service.

The Technology Policy Institute (TPI) hosted an event today discussing universal service and the future of federal programs such as the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program USF, E-Rate, and more.

During the conversation, Jon Nuechterlein, Nonresident Senior Fellow at TPI, criticized the current contribution policies of the USF. The proposed contribution factor for the first quarter of 2025 exceeds 36 percent, representing the percentage of interstate end-user revenues that telecommunication companies contribute to the USF. Companies typically trickle these high contribution factors into consumers’ bills, raising broadband prices.

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USF BEAD Technology Policy Institute TPI E-Rate Jon Nuechterlein Nick Degani Blair Levin DEI Contribution factor Big Tech Ajit Pai Brookings Digital Progress Institute FCC Trump administration digital equity Supreme Court