USF Reform Key to Widely-Available, High-Speed Internet, FCC Chairman Says

Speaking at the release of the Communications Workers of America's "Speed Matters" report, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski said, "Speed matters, because if we want the job-creating Internet services and applications of the future developed in America, we are going to have to do better."

The National Broadband Plan sets goals of 100 megabits per second broadband to 100 million homes by 2020 and 1 gigabit-per-second service to at least one anchor institution in every community in the country. To reach these goals, the FCC is working to modernize the Universal Service Fund from supporting yesterday's telephone service to tomorrow's broadband access service. Through public-private partnerships, USF helped bring phone service to all corners of the country. But the program has become outdated, inefficient, and poorly targeted, Chairman Genachowski said. The National Broadband Plan proposed transforming USF by creating a Connect America Fund to focus on broadband in a way that is fiscally responsible, that demands accountability, and works -- that is targeted and effective.