Broadband has gone from being a luxury to a necessity for full participation in our economy and society – for all Americans. For that reason, the FCC has adopted comprehensive reforms of its Universal Service Fund (USF) and Intercarrier Compensation (ICC) systems to accelerate broadband build-out to the 18 million Americans living in rural areas who currently have no access to robust broadband infrastructure. This reform will expand the benefits of high-speed Internet to millions of consumers in every part of the country by transforming the existing USF into a new Connect America Fund (CAF) focused on broadband.
Consumers everywhere – both urban and rural – will benefit. Reform will not only drive economic growth in rural America, but will expand the online marketplace nationwide, creating jobs and businesses opportunities across the country.
What's New
Contents
- Read the Executive Summary to the USF/ICC Transformation Order
- FCC Releases
- Rate of Return Carrier Resources
- Price Cap Carrier Resources
- Mobility Fund I Resources (Auction 901)
- Maps
- Blogs
- Commission Meeting Adopting Reform
- Consumer Benefits by the Numbers
- Annual Universal Service Monitoring Report
Other Resources
- Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)
- Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service Contact List (PDF)
FCC Releases
General Actions
- FCC Releases New, Interactive Map Illustrating States Set to Receive 'Connect America Fund' Support to Bring 400,000 Americans High-Speed Broadband. (7/26/12)
- FCC Kicks-Off Connect America Fund (7/25/12)
- USF/ICC Transformation Order
- Sua Sponte Order on Reconsideration
- USF/ICC Second Order on Reconsideration (4/25/12)
- USF/ICC Third Order on Reconsideration (5/14/12)
- USF/ICC Fourth Order on Reconsideration (7/18/12)
- Erratum
- Clarifying Aspects of USF/ICC Order I (2/3/12)
- Clarifying Aspects of USF/ICC Order II (2/27/12)
- Clarifying Aspects of USF/ICC Order III (6/5/12)
- Clarifying Aspects of USF/ICC Order IV (7/18/12)
- ONAP, WTB, and WCB Issue Further Guidance on Tribal Engagement
- Urban Rates Survey Public Notice (7/26/12)
Connect America Fund
Connect America Fund – Mobility Fund I
Maps
- Broadband Availability Across the US
- Mobility Fund Phase 1 Potentially Eligible Areas
- Regulatory Type at the Holding Company Level by Study Area
- Connect America Phase I
Blogs
- FCC Launches Connect America Fund(4/25/12)
- Data the Way You Want It – New GIS Data Formats for Mobility Fund Phase I (3/8/12)
- Expanding Broadband and Protecting Voice Service in Rural America (2/8/12)
- Understanding Maps at the Federal Communications Commission (2/3/12)
- Connect America Fund: Putting Consumers First (10/2/11)
Consumer Benefits by the Numbers
- Americans living in unserved rural areas who will receive access to broadband over the next decade: 18 million
- Consumers who will get mobile broadband coverage where they live, work, and travel: millions
- Jobs created related to new deployment in rural areas over five years: 500,000
- Annual economic benefits in rural areas from new deployment: $700 million
- Annual increase in economic growth, creating jobs: $50 billion
- Benefit to cost ratio for consumers: $3 to $1
- Percentage of FORTUNE 500 companies that post job openings online only – and require online applications: over 80 percent
- Graduation rates for students with broadband at home compared to similar students with no broadband access: 6% to 8% higher