Ellis Scherer

While distribution reform is the best way to shrink the contribution factor, Congress should also reform USF funding to come from general appropriations, or some other method of encompassing the entire U.S. tax base.

Congress should reform and refocus the Universal Service Fund. It spends too much money, prioritizes the wrong problems, and funds it all with a high, sector-specific tax rate. Congress should reduce the overall size of the program and fund it with general revenue.

The FCC’s new rules to streamline subsea cable approvals strengthen U.S. competitiveness against China by cutting red tape, accelerating deployment, and encouraging investment in critical digital infrastructure.

To counter China’s telecom dominance and restore U.S. competitiveness, policymakers should lead a global push for Open RAN standards that foster security, innovation, and fair competition.

Trump’s proposed copper tariffs would supercharge theft, hike consumer costs, and entrench outdated broadband infrastructure—all while threatening public safety.

The Commission should seek to maximize the productivity of satellite spectrum by replacing EPFD limits with the degraded throughput methodology that is used for NGSO-NGSO spectrum sharing and for NGSO-GSO sharing in the V-band.

Deploying broadband infrastructure requires ISPs to incur steep upfront costs that they recoup over time in consumers’ monthly bills. Market concentration can help keep prices down by spreading out fixed costs among a larger number of customers.

Multiple broadband technologies are delivering high-speed Internet service to consumers, creating even more robust competition. Yet, regulations are misaligned with market realities and should be updated to help maximize the consumer benefits of this increasing competition.

California’s outdated broadband laws are forcing providers to waste resources on obsolete copper lines, slowing progress and hurting consumers.

Criminals in search of copper destroy broadband infrastructure, causing massive service disruptions. Local crime prevention efforts backed by changes to state and federal regulations will better protect critical communications networks.

By leveraging market mechanisms, engaging critical stakeholders, and ensuring robust technical standards, the Commission can facilitate an efficient and effective allocation of the Upper C-band.

Consumers will benefit from updated Federal Communications Commission rules that recognize technical and economic realities and foster a dynamic marketplace for years to come.

Watch now for a panel discussion featuring submarine cable owners and operators as they delve into the past, present, and future of this essential industry. Learn about the technological advances, policy challenges, and global implications shaping the world beneath the waves.