The idea that all Americans should have reliable access to communications at a reasonable cost has been a national objective for over a century.
Today, the Universal Service Fund helps rural consumers get and stay connected to #BroadbandBuiltToLast with services comparable in price and quality to urban areas. Learn how. https://www.ntca.org/advocacy/issues/universal-service-infrastructure
Watch the above video to learn about how the USF helps rural Americans get and stay connected. Without USF support, it is difficult to make a business case to invest in many rural areas, to sustain networks once they are built, or to keep service rates affordable. According to an August 2024 survey of more than 200 community-based broadband providers across 35 states, the loss of USF support could be catastrophic for rural consumers, efforts to keep investing in broadband deployment, and the viability of existing rural broadband networks.
Respondents reported that rural consumers could see their bills increase by $72 per month if USF support were eliminated. In addition, 68% of respondents said they could face the need to cancel deployment projects next year equaling over $1 billion, representing nearly 80% of these companies’ planned broadband investments for 2025.
Even as new broadband deployment programs offer great promise for reaching unserved areas, the USF remains critical to both getting and keeping rural consumers connected to high-quality, affordable services.
Robust and reliable broadband access is essential to improving healthcare outcomes in rural America. By expanding the reach of medical care through telehealth, broadband services supported by the Universal Service Fund are enhancing health care across small-town America. #BroadbandBuiltToLast
