“The sustainability of the Universal Service Fund continues to be our north star,” said Roxie Jorgensen, Board Secretary of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association in her introduction of the opening session at the RTIME conference in San Antonio today.
Following Jorgensen’s introduction, NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield gave an update about the association’s efforts to protect the Universal Service Fund after the Fifth Circuit court ruled it unconstitutional last year. Bloomfield reminded NTCA members of the brief NTCA filed and spoke of a reply brief “in a few weeks” and oral arguments before the Supreme Court.
“At the end of the day, Universal Service continues to be the most significant tool we have in bridging the digital divide.”
Describing protecting universal service as a “battle,” Bloomfield said work to save the USF would involve every branch of government. She described NTCA’s work with a political action committee (PAC), which is getting to know the new members of Congress and helping them understand the importance of the USF.
Bloomfield described the volatility of Washington, D.C, describing the situation as changing “a little bit day to day and hour to hour.”
“We’re not going to be fighting this battle alone,” Bloomfield said. “Already, we’ve had 29 members of Congress, attorneys general, public advocates, [and] state associations all weighing in with amicus briefs, and getting a number of other voices to this table.”
Universal Service Day of Action
Bloomfield introduced an ad campaign, “Universal Connectivity Must Be Sustained,” featuring a short video spot. According to Bloomfield, the ad has been run in “key congressional districts,” in Washington, D.C., and other “places where we know there are folks that are critical to the future” of the Universal Service Fund.
She then announced a “USF Day of Action” on March 12, encouraging the gathered NTCA members to participate by telling their stories, sharing the campaign video, and using the hashtag #BroadbandBuiltToLast.
“This car is going to need gas,” said Bloomfield, urging members to participate in the campaign for universal service: “Get involved, donate to the PAC, run the PSA, meet with your local Congresspeople.”
“This isn’t going to be an easy path ahead, by any means.”
