Recent Press Releases

Thune, Colleagues Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Access to Rural Broadband

“It is crucial that rural communities across South Dakota have access to reliable broadband services.”

March 31, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, recently joined his colleagues in reintroducing the Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act, bipartisan legislation to expand broadband access to rural communities. The bill would strengthen funding mechanisms for the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF), which promotes universal access to broadband and other telecommunications services. Currently, the USF is primarily funded through landline fees, disproportionately impacting seniors, who are more likely to use landlines than other Americans. 

“It is crucial that rural communities across South Dakota have access to reliable broadband services,” said Thune. “For years I have fought for predictable and sufficient support for broadband providers to help enable the continued deployment of these services throughout our communities. The FCC’s Universal Service Fund has played an important role in expanding broadband access, and this legislation would ensure it remains sustainable in the future.”  

“WTA supports the introduction of the Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act and all efforts to modernize the Universal Service Fund contributions system. It makes no sense to solely rely on assessments on long-distance voice revenue for contributions to USF to pay for what is now a broadband-focused fund,” said Derrick Owens, senior vice president of government and industry affairs at WTA - Advocates for Rural Broadband. “While the FCC has the authority to expand the contributions base and put the Fund on a sustainable path for the future, it has chosen not to do so. Congress should pass this legislation to require the FCC to act.”

“Ensuring broadband service in the most remote, hardest-to-serve areas requires a sustainable Universal Service Fund with a sustainable funding formula,” said Brandon Heiner, senior vice president for government affairs at USTelecom. “Senators Thune and Klobuchar recognize that the contribution mechanism must be reformed to preserve connectivity for rural Americans. Directing the FCC to initiate a rulemaking to expand the contributions base will help secure the future of universal service.”

“NTCA applauds the leadership of Senators Thune and Klobuchar in seeking to chart a course for steadier long-term support of USF programs and promote achievement of our country’s universal service mission,” said Shirley Bloomfield, chief executive officer at NTCA. “As we continue to rely on broadband for just about every aspect of daily life, including working and learning remotely, the Universal Service Fund is key to making?critical communications?services both available and affordable. Efforts to?examine and?address?continuing erosion in the system that funds?the USF will be essential to achieve and sustain a shared vision of universal connectivity. We are therefore pleased to endorse the?Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act.”

The bill would direct the FCC to initiate a rulemaking process to reform the contributions system and take into account the fairness and the relative burden any changes in fees would have on consumers and businesses, as well as the impact the proposed changes to the contribution system would have on seniors.

The bill was cosponsored by U.S. Sens. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.). Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Reps. Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas), Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.), Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), and Mike Rogers (R-Ala.).