Arlington, Va., (July 24, 2024) — In response to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit decision in the Consumers’ Research petition on the constitutionality of the mechanism for contributions to the federal Universal Service Fund, NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, the Competitive Carriers Association, and USTelecom–The Broadband Association released the following statement.
“The Universal Service Fund has been, and continues to be, a critical tool to narrow the digital divide and help address connectivity gaps. The court’s decision today deals a severe blow to these efforts and could put at risk the availability and affordability of essential communications services for millions of rural Americans, low-income consumers, and community anchor institutions. We steadfastly believe that the Universal Service Fund is constitutional, and we will continue to fight for universal connectivity.”
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NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is the premier association representing over 850 independent, community-based telecommunications companies that are leading innovative change in smart rural communities across America. In an era of transformative technological developments, regulatory challenges and marketplace competition, NTCA members are advancing efforts to close the digital divide by delivering robust and high-quality services over future-proof networks. Their commitment to building sustainable networks makes rural communities fertile ground for innovation in economic development, e-commerce, health care, agriculture and education, and it contributes billions of dollars to the U.S. economy each year. Visit us at www.ntca.org.
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