USF legislation could be a game-changer for broadband innovation

[Commentary] It's difficult to see the potential diamonds of innovation in the rough phase our current economy, but proposed legislation to reform the Universal Service Fund could result in broadband innovations - if people with vision see the light. The challenge, of course, will be in getting from here to there once the light bulb goes off. The High Cost Fund is the specific USF program that would support the broadband funding. Currently it provides vital telephone services (and occasionally some broadband projects are funded) for which many are thankful. But there probably isn't much resulting from this you'd call innovative. This can change if creative people are willing to influence the hearts and minds of those writing and eventually voting on the reform bill, as well as inspire the business thinking of rural telecom companies that are intended fund recipients. Congress should change the High Cost Fund into a Digital Communication Enhancement Fund. Just nuke once and for all this concept that there are separate worlds of voice communication and data communication. It's a digital world now, folks! Voice can be reduced to 0's and 1's similar to everything else we use to communicate information. Our legislation and rules for grants need to reflect and reinforce this reality.