On December 15, 2021, the FCC released a Notice of Inquiry (“NOI”) seeking comment on issues related to the future of the Universal Service Fund (“USF”) in light of the broadband investments in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (“Infrastructure Act”). The NOI seeks comment on three broad areas related to USF. The FCC will utilize these comments to develop the FCC’s Future of Universal Service Report, which, pursuant to the Infrastructure Act, the Commission must submit to Congress within 270 days of enactment.
First, the NOI seeks comment on the impact of the Infrastructure Act on effectively achieving the Commission’s universal service goals for broadband. Specifically, the NOI seeks comment on how to best evaluate the effectiveness of existing USF programs in achieving the FCC’s universal service goals for broadband; how to analyze the Infrastructure Act’s potential impacts on the FCC’s proposed goals of universal deployment, affordability, adoption, availability, and equitable access to broadband throughout the United States and whether these goals should evolve over time; how other federal programs, complementary to the FCC’s USF program, will impact the FCC’s goals and how the FCC can work with other agencies to prevent duplication of broadband funding; and what impact the Infrastructure Act will have on the federal authorized broadband programs contained within the act and how these programs will affect the FCC’s ability to achieve its universal service goals.
Second, the NOI seeks comment on options for improving the FCC’s effectiveness in achieving its universal service goals in light of the Infrastructure Act and what other actions the FCC could take to improve its ability to reach these goals. Specifically, the NOI seeks comment on the impact of the Infrastructure Act on the following programs and what steps the FCC can take to improve them to achieve their goals: the High-Cost program, particularly given the goals of the NTIA’s new Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program; the Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program; the E-Rate and Emergency Connectivity Fund Program; the Rural Healthcare Program; and sustaining the Universal Service Fund.
Third, the NOI seeks comment on recommendations for future Congressional action regarding the FCC’s USF programs. Specifically, the NOI seeks comment on modifications to their existing programs that will help the FCC achieve its goals of universal deployment, affordability, adoption, availability, and equitable access to broadband throughout the United States.
Comments are due January 18, 2022 and Reply Comments are due January 31, 2022.
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