New York Attorney General Letitia James has called on the Supreme Court to maintain a funding initiative crucial for broadband access in rural areas. The Universal Service Fund (USF) plays a key role in supporting internet, phone, and communication services for rural communities, schools, and low-income users across the United States. This appeal was made through an amicus brief filed in the case of FCC v. Consumers’ Research by a coalition of 24 attorneys general.
Attorney General James emphasized the significance of the USF: “Thousands of schools, libraries, and health care facilities across the country rely on funding from the FCC’s Universal Service Fund to operate, and shutting it down would have devastating consequences.” She added that her office is committed to preserving this essential program.
The USF was introduced as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to aid in building infrastructure for nationwide communication services. It is managed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which works with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to administer the fund. However, a ruling last year by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit declared that the funding structure underpinning the FCC’s USF is unconstitutional.
The attorneys general argue that Congress's goals for establishing the USF have been successfully met. They claim that without this fund, many communities might face disruptions in essential telecommunications services. Schools could struggle to provide necessary resources for students, while accessing healthcare in rural areas could become more challenging.
In addition to Attorney General James, attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine (including its Office of Public Advocate), Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming and Washington D.C., are also participating in this effort.