2022 Policy Summit

Keynote
Rep. Lizzie Fletcher
(D-Texas)

Sen. Michael Bennet
(D-Colo.) 

Sen. Angus King
(I-Maine) 

USF Reform: Process, Proposals and Prospects of Moving Forward 
For 25 years, the FCC’s Universal Service Fund (USF) has ensured that all Americans have access to voice and broadband services at affordable rates and that schools and libraries are connected to broadband. However, the USF funding mechanism is under significant duress. Revenues subject to USF assessment have declined by nearly 43% in the last decade, while the contribution factor has increased from less than 13% in 2010 to a historic high of 33.4% in 2021. Assuming this trend continues, the contribution factor could approach 40% or more in the coming years. Reforming the current funding system in order to stabilize the USF is long overdue. In the fall of 2021, former FCC official and USF expert Carol Mattey published USForward, which recommends that the FCC expand the USF contribution base to include broadband internet access service revenues. INCOMPAS joined 254 organizations in a letter calling on broadband policymakers to repair the USF and implement this proposal. During this panel discussion, hear from policy experts on the need to reform the current USF framework, the USForward proposal, and the likelihood of reform at the FCC.

Part 1
Chris Nelson, Chairman, South Dakota Public Utilities Commission in conversation with Angie Kronenberg, Chief Advocate and General Counsel, INCOMPAS

Part 2
Moderator: Lindsay Stern, Policy Advisor, INCOMPAS

Speakers:

• Andrew Brown, Managing Partner, Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby
• Nell Geiser, Director of Research, CWA
• Carol Mattey, Principal, Mattey Consulting LLC 

Moderator: Michele Farquhar, Partner, Hogan Lovells

Speakers:

• Caressa D. Bennet, General Counsel, Rural Wireless Association
• Michael Essington, Senior Manager of Public Policy, DISH
• Tim Meyer, Managing Partner, Go Long Wireless Group
• Joel Thayer, President, Digital Progress Institute

Moderator: Christopher L. Shipley, Policy Advisor, INCOMPAS

Speakers: 

• Jenna Leventoff, Senior Policy Counsel, Public Knowledge
• Brian Regan, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Chief of Staff, Starry
• Jamie Belcore Saloom, Assistant Chief Counsel,Telecommunications, Internet and IP, SBA Office of Advocacy

Part 1 - The Role of Federal Agencies
Federal agencies, including NTIA, USDA, Treasury and the FCC, will be responsible for new broadband funding. This includes $42.5 billion for a new Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, which will be allocated across each state and administered through NTIA, an additional $2 billion for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, the passage of the Digital Equity Act, $1 billion for a grant program to support deployments of middle mile infrastructure, and $2 billion going toward the USDA’s ReConnect grant program – it will be critical to better understand each of these programs, how the agency is planning to create its new rules or guidelines in the upcoming months, and how industry can do its part to ensure the timely deployment of these funds.
 

Moderator: Andrew Mincheff, Government Relations Director, INCOMPAS​

Speakers:

• Douglas Kinkoph, Associate Administrator, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, NTIA
• Christopher A. McLean, Assistant Administrator, Electric Programs, Rural Utilities Service
• Joseph Wender, Capital Projects Fund Director, U.S. Treasury Department
   

Part 2 - The Role of the States and Local Government
With the federal government making historic investments in broadband deployment and connectivity, state and local governments will be playing an even larger role in being tasked with the allocation of new infrastructure funds, it is important to hear from representatives and local officials who are on the ground to gain a better understanding of the barriers and challenges facing many towns and cities across the country building out networks. With the potential for greater broadband expansion as a result of this funding, the panel will also share best practices and lessons learned from previous funding programs to ensure both unserved and underserved needs are being met while also working to find those necessary solutions for helping broadband providers reach more customers over the next few years. This session will be moderated by former FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, co-chair of the INCOMPAS BroadLand campaign, and feature local policy makers and experts who will discuss lessons learned and best practices for building the broadband networks of the future.

Moderator: Mignon L. Clyburn, Former Commissioner, FCC

Speakers: 

• Stanley Adams, Director, Office of Broadband Development, Kansas Department of Commerce
• Steve Benjamin, Former Mayor, Columbia, S.C.
• Ernesto Falcon, Senior Legislative Counsel, Electronic Frontier Foundation
• Peggy Schaffer, Executive Director, ConnectME Authority
   

Part 3 - Industry Viewpoint: Federal Broadband Funding Programs
Industry participants will discuss their view of successful prior funding models that should be considered to best "future proof" broadband network builds under new funding programs. Broadband builders will share their perspective of best practices, rules and requirements that federal and state agencies should consider as they develop  eligibility and other requirements for future funding programs.

Moderator: Andrew D. Lipman, Partner, Morgan Lewis

Speakers: 

• Josh Broder, CEO, Tilson
• Chris Champion, Vice President, Government Relations, C Spire
• Kelly McGriff, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Uniti Group
• Staci Pies, Vice President, Public Policy, Crown Castle
• Matt Wiltanger, General Counsel, Unite Private Networks