""The beauty of universal service... is we're all in this together," Romano said. "This is about connecting every American - regardless of where they live, their income level - making sure schools, libraries, and rural healthcare facilities are connected. The moment we start to be played off against each other is the moment that the bipartisan nature of the issues... start to fall apart, and we don't want to see that happen.""
""What we now have is an entirely new fight over how to use some of these leftover BEAD funds," Bloomfield said, referring to the recent executive order tying BEAD non-deployment funds to states' artificial intelligence (AI) policies."
""I think we still have a job to ensure that this program deploys per expectations and that there's accountability [and] transparency," she said."
The Supreme Court upheld the Universal Service Fund, prompting celebration and continued advocacy. NTCA emphasized protecting the USF while noting an ongoing Fifth Circuit case that questions portions of the fund. NTCA framed universal service as a bipartisan effort to connect every American, including schools, libraries, and rural healthcare, and linked broadband costs to the necessity of USF support. The BEAD Program faces challenges over leftover funds, now tied to state AI policies, and NTCA plans close monitoring to ensure deployment, accountability, and transparency. Permitting deregulation actions by the Federal Communications Commission remain a policy focus.
Read at Telecompetitor
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