Today, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit denied a petition questioning the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund (USF), finding that Congress and the Federal Communications Communications acted properly in creating the subsidy system that make telecommunications and broadband services more available in and affordable for rural areas, schools, libraries, healthcare facilities, and low-income households. The following statement may be attributed to Benton Senior Counselor Andrew Jay Schwartzman:

"Coming from one of the more conservative courts in the country, this decision is a ringing ratification of the system Congress established to ensure that all Americans have affordable access to telecommunications service and advanced services like broadband. This should not come as a surprise, but once the USF was subjected to a legal challenge, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society joined with public allies to defend this critical mechanism for ensuring universal broadband.

 

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.

---

For subscribe/unsubscribe info, please email headlinesATbentonDOTorg