Future of Universal Service Fund Reform Task Force
MOVING TOWARD OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL:
The Future of Universal Service Reform
The Universal Service Fund (USF) has served as the backbone of our nation’s digital infrastructure for nearly three decades, ensuring that students, healthcare providers, and families stay connected. However, shifting technology landscapes, evolving economic realities, and recent legal challenges require a modernized approach to secure its long-term viability for current and future generations.
To meet this critical moment, Keep Our Communities Connected (KOCC) and the SHLB Coalition convened the Future of Universal Service Reform Task Force. Co-chaired by former FCC Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Rachelle Chong, this independent, consensus-driven task force brought together leading experts across the telecommunications, education, healthcare and public service sectors to deliver a consensus framework for Congressional and federal policymakers.
As the Congressional USF Working Group evaluates legislative pathways forward, this framework provides a practical, consensus-driven baseline for necessary structural reform.
Modernizing the USF ensures that no community loses access to vital high-speed internet, telehealth services, or classroom connectivity.
Our Core Recommendations
The Task Force framework outlines six essential principles designed to protect, evolve, and future-proof universal service programs for school districts, libraries, rural health facilities, and low-income households nationwide.
1. Preserve the Enduring National Commitment of Access and Economic Opportunity
Transition public policy from temporary or emergency connectivity programs toward a permanent, sustainable operational model for public communication infrastructure.
2. Ensure Legal & Institutional Durability
Strengthen the statutory foundations for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to provide long-term regulatory certainty and withstand legal scrutiny.
3. Ensure Sustainable Funding
Protect and expand the USF's self-funding, non-appropriated framework. This ensures public infrastructure investments remain stable and insulated from federal budget volatility or annual political deadlocks.
4. Modernize Affordability Policies
Update legacy programs like Lifeline and E-Rate to reflect contemporary broadband usage patterns, ensuring that modern technical baselines are met and that the homework gap is closed for all learners.
5. Provide and Ensure Accountability & Data Transparency
Expand open data portals and tracking mechanisms to ensure full visibility into fund distribution, maximizing the public return on infrastructure investments.
6. Support Next-Generation Network Readiness and Cybersecurity
Integrate advanced cybersecurity parameters, end-to-end network hardening, and high-capacity pipelines into funding requirements. This ensures networks can safely support modern automated educational utilities, telehealth platforms, and secure, interoperable data practices.
Composition of Task Force
The Task Force will bring together a small group of senior leaders and policy experts from across the communications and technology policy ecosystem, including:
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Former federal and state policymakers with experience in communications policy
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Representatives of public interest and civil society organizations
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Industry stakeholders and trade associations
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Experts from academia and policy research organizations
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Representatives of stakeholder communities served by universal service programs
Outputs and Communications
The Task Force will seek to identify areas of agreement and shared principles related to potential approaches to USF reform. The group will operate on a consensus basis, with the goal of highlighting areas where diverse stakeholders can align.
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A public announcement of the Task Force and its leadership
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A final set of principles or recommendations reflecting areas of consensus
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Media engagement to share the results of the effort