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, Benton Senior Counselor Andrew Jay Schwartzman released the following statement:

"Today’s majority opinion attempts to break new ground by ignoring Fifth Circuit and Supreme Court precedent. The majority’s hostility to the policies underlying the Universal Service Fund is palpable. That, plus the bipartisan group of seven dissenters, makes it almost certain that the Supreme Court will agree to hear the issue. And, given that two other Circuits have recently ruled the other way, I think there is a strong likelihood that the Supreme Court will uphold the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund."

 

The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people in the U.S. have access to competitive, High-Performance Broadband regardless of where they live or who they are. We believe communication policy - rooted in the values of access, equity, and diversity - has the power to deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities.

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