It's no question that the Universal Service Fund (USF) has proven it's value in creating an all-inclusive broadband network. However, the rising costs of USF fees have caused many industry professionals to call for a change in how service providers contribute to the fund.
In our regulatory work, we're often shocked at how many providers don’t know that there are ways to cut their overall USF contribution to be a fraction of what it is now.
To give a brief overview of the USF, it’s split between four separate funds;
- Low-income Lifeline fund
- Rural Healthcare fund (RHC)
- E-Rate: For Schools and Libraries
- High-cost fund