NTCA - The Rural Broadband Association applaud the introduction of the “Lowering Broadband Costs for Consumers Act.” The legislation directs the Federal Communications Commission to require broadband service providers to contribute to the Universal Service Fund. “NCTA applauds the introduction of the Lowering Broadband Costs for Consumers Act, which would promote more predictable and stable funding to preserve and advance the statutory mission of universal service,” says NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield.
“As traditional telecommunications revenues decline, the assessment on the remaining consumers of such services increases, resulting in a disproportionate burden on those consumers even though they are not the most significant users of services or beneficiaries of underlying networks.” She also says common-sense reforms like those directed by this legislation will shore up the foundation of universal service funding and will ultimately help low-income and rural consumers, schools, and other rural facilities that depend on critical universal service programs.
-NAFB