Supreme Court Ruling Clears Path for Smart USF Reform, Says ITIF
WASHINGTON—Following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Universal Service Fund (USF), the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy, released the following statement from Joe Kane, director of broadband and spectrum policy:
The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the basic structure of the Universal Service Fund heightens the need for Congress and the FCC to make it more targeted and sustainable. USF reform should start with distribution reform, rather than with seeking to pass through more taxes to consumers to prop up obsolete programs. By sunsetting outdated rural infrastructure programs and focusing affordability support on those who need it, the USF can be a better tool for closing the digital divide without runaway taxes.
Contact: Austin Slater, [email protected]
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The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational institute focusing on the intersection of technological innovation and public policy. Recognized by its peers in the think tank community as the global center of excellence for science and technology policy, ITIF’s mission is to formulate and promote policy solutions that accelerate innovation and boost productivity to spur growth, opportunity, and progress.
