OTI Highlights Broad Opposition to FCC’s Dangerous Proposal to Cap the Universal Service Fund

Today, New America’s Open Technology Institute filed reply comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging it to reject its proposal to impose restrictions on funding for programs that help low-income consumers, schools and libraries, health care providers, and rural telecommunications providers. OTI submitted the reply comments to illustrate the broad range of initial comments that, similar to OTI's initial comments, oppose the FCC’s plan to implement a spending cap for all four Universal Service Fund (USF) programs. OTI is joined in its opposition by the wireless industry; schools; school districts; libraries; public interest organizations; and groups representing rural telecommunications providers, veterans, Americans over 50, and others.

The following quote can be attributed to Amir Nasr, policy analyst at New America’s Open Technology Institute:

“The FCC’s proposal to impose an overall cap on the Universal Service Fund is extremely dangerous, as evidenced by the broad range of oppositional comments in the record. Most commenters, including those that benefit from and participate in USF programs, agreed with our initial arguments that this proposal is unnecessary and harmful to the USF programs, the providers that participate in those programs, and the consumers who benefit from them. Instead of focusing on the USF cap sideshow, the FCC should tackle genuine problems like reforming the USF contribution scheme and strengthening participation in programs like Lifeline. Either way, the FCC should move on from this misguided proposal.”