USF framework 'more likely than not' to be upheld, says Blair Levin

The Supreme Court held oral arguments in Federal Communications Commission v. Consumers' Research, a case challenging the legality of the Universal Service Fund framework. While a decision isn't expected from the court until June or later, at least one analyst believes the USF framework is "more likely than not" to be upheld."After the argument, we believe the current USF framework is more likely than not to be upheld," wrote analyst and former FCC official Blair Levin in a policy note for New Street Research. However, he caveats, that outcome is "not a certainty." Indeed, while Levin expects the three justices appointed by Democrats to uphold the program, "other justices gave indications that they could vote either way," while Justice Neil Gorsuch indicated he would be "one clear vote to overturn the program," said Levin.