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In the past, Universal Service meant extending public access to "basic services" or what is known as "plain old telephone service" (POTS) at reasonable rates to the majority of households in the United States. Today, with dramatic technological advances and structural changes in the telecommunications sector, the traditional concept of Universal Service is in transition. (See FCC Major Issues, including Universal Service; Telephone Service on Reservations; Health Care; Disabilities Issues; Broadband; Internet Access; LearnNet; and Benton Foundation Universal Service Library)
NTIA Filings on Universal Service
Over the past several years, NTIA has filed comments for consideration by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and, prior to that, the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service which has made significant recommendations to the FCC on a number of these questions and issues.
NTIA Reports related to Universal Service
The NTIA has periodically undertaken reports on the issue of universal service.
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A Nation Online: Entering the Broadband Age, measures the number of Americans who used information technologies in general, and broadband more specifically, in 2003. (September 2004)
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For more information contact:
James McConnaughey, jmcconnaughey@ntia.doc.gov
Office of Policy Analysis and Development
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce
14th St. & Constitution Ave., NW, Room 4725
Washington, D.C. 20230
Voice: (202) 482-1880 · Fax: (202) 482-6173
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