Roslyn Layton: Expand USF to Include Edge Providers

With a federal court recently declaring the funding mechanism for a major low-income connectivity program unconstitutional, telecommunications policy experts are actively discussing alternative solutions to keep essential broadband programs funded. Roslyn Layton, executive vice president of Strand Consult, met with the Federal Communications Commission to propose expanding the $8.1 billion Universal Service Fund’s funding base in a way that avoids the financial burden falling on consumers. Layton said contributions from industries that benefit from broadband networks—such as cloud computing, software as a service (SaaS), and digital advertising—would establish a sustainable $15 billion annual fund to support both the USF and the Affordable Connectivity Program.