Time to Update Universal Service for Rural Telecoms

[Commentary] As times change, it’s important that rules governing technology keep pace. While existing laws may contain timeless principles, if the regulations governing those principles do not evolve over time, they may begin to hinder progress. When it comes to providing access to high-quality telecommunications services to rural Americans, inaction in Washington has done just that: regulations written for the telephone era are governing a rapidly-evolving tech sector. And it’s time for a change. This is about giving rural consumers -- from every corner of the country -- the freedom to choose the advanced broadband communications they want, need, and deserve from their provider.

Today, rural consumers are being denied these choices because universal service rules force them to select services they may not want anymore (e.g. traditional landline telephones) in order to access services those consumers do want (e.g. high-speed broadband at an affordable rate). Consumers should absolutely have the right to buy traditional telephone services if they want them, but they shouldn’t be forced to buy traditional telephone services just to get affordable broadband. That’s what we’re working with lawmakers and regulators to change.

[Bloomfield is the CEO of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association]