Senator Peters Requests Comment from Michigan Communities and Stakeholders Regarding the Future of the Universal Service Fund

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), as a member of the Universal Service Fund (USF) Working Group, is seeking comment submissions from Michigan communities and stakeholders regarding the future of USF for a 30-day period closing Friday, August 25th, 2023. The Working Group is co-chaired by U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and John Thune (R-SD), and also includes Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Jerry Moran (R-KS). Comments can be submitted HERE.

“The Universal Service Fund helps support high-speed internet in rural and underserved areas across our country, including in Michigan,” said Senator Peters. “This effort will help us ensure this program is strong for years to come and find solutions to expand access to reliable high-speed internet in our state and across the country.”

In May, Senator Peters joined the bipartisan Working Group to evaluate reforms to strengthen USF, which supports access to broadband services. The working group will consider the current state of programs funded by the USF and administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as well as possible reforms to ensure the Commission is able to achieve its mission to promote and preserve universal service across the United States.

The USF Working group invites comments on the following topics:

1. How should Congress and the Commission evaluate the effectiveness of the existing USF programs in achieving universal service goals for broadband?
2. To what extent have the existing USF programs been effective in carrying out section 254 of the Communications Act of 1994?
   1. Has the Commission adequately evaluated the effectiveness of each program against concrete goals and metrics?
3. Is the FCC’s administration of the USF and its four programs sufficiently transparency and accountable? If not, what reforms are necessary and appropriate within the four existing USF programs to improve transparency, accountability, and cost-effectiveness, and does the Commission have the authority to make such reforms?
   1. High-Cost Support
   2. Low-Income Support
   3. Schools and Libraries Support
   4. Rural Health Care Support
4. What reforms are necessary to address inefficiencies and waste, fraud, and abuse in each of the four programs and duplication with other government programs?
5. What additional policies beyond existing programs are necessary for the preservation and advancement of universal service?
6. Should Congress eliminate the requirement that a provider must be an “Eligible Telecommunications Carrier” to receive USF subsidies?
7. Currently, telecommunications companies must pay a contribution factor to the Universal Service Fund proportional to interstate end-user revenues. What reforms are necessary to ensure that the contribution factor is sufficient to preserve and advance universal service?
   1. Some have advocated for assessing USF contributions on broadband service and edge providers.  What would the impact of such reforms on ratepayers and the marketplace?
   2. Some have advocated the funding for the USF to an appropriations model.  What impact would that have the USF?
8. What actions are necessary and appropriate to improve coordination between USF programs and other programs at the Federal Communications Commission, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, USDA Rural Development, the Department of Treasury, and other federal agencies?
9. Is the USF administrator, USAC, sufficiently accountable and transparent?  Is USAC’s role in need of reform?

The form to submit public comments can be found HERE. Please submit your comments as a single PDF file. Please ensure that this PDF file includes your organization name & contact information. This comment collection will be open for a period of 30 days and close on midnight 12:00 AM Eastern Time on Friday, August 25th, 2023.

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