TIA Urges Transition of Universal Service Fund to Broadband

The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) is urging the FCC to gradually transition current universal service funds to a broadband fund as part the National Broadband Plan. The industry organization argues that broadband support should extend beyond initial deployment in unserved areas, covering deployment in areas with little or no broadband service and the continued operation of existing broadband service. The support would ensure that high-cost, rural locales receive service that reasonably compares with services provided in urban areas at similar rates.

Furthermore, TIA argues that the transition should be technologically and competitively neutral. TIA also recommends that such a transition should occur within five years, if an immediate transition is not possible.
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