Following the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision affirming the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) authority to administer the Universal Service Fund (USF or Fund), a bipartisan, bicameral group of members of Congress are taking tangible steps towards potential USF reform. In an effort to evaluate and propose potential reforms to the USF with the goal of developing a forum to guide education, awareness, and policymaking, the Congressional USF working group is currently seeking public input on how best to re-shape the Fund going forward to ensure the long-term effectiveness of each USF program.
Earlier this month, Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) announced the launch of the USF working group’s public comment portal. Interested parties, whether individuals or organizations, have an opportunity to provide initial responses to help guide Congress as it reviews the structure, priorities, and implementation strategy of the Fund. The questionnaire directs respondents to share their input on specific topics concerning the effectiveness of existing programs and considerations for reform, including:
- What metrics should Congress use to evaluate the effectiveness of each USF program in fulfilling the Communications Act’s universal service goals?
- What reforms would enhance transparency, accountability, cost‑effectiveness, administration, and support for universal service?
- How can the USF contribution formula be adjusted to sustain universal service?
- What steps could prevent waste, fraud, and abuse?
- Are there opportunities to better align the USF with other FCC and federal broadband initiatives? And does the FCC—or USF’s administrator, USAC—have the necessary authority and accountability to pursue such reforms?
Interested parties can submit comments through the portal any time before 11:59 p.m., (ET) September 15, 2025.
The USF working group is led by Senators Fischer and Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) and Representatives Richard Hudson (R-NC) and Doris Matsui (D-CA).
For more information about the Congressional request for comments or the USF generally, please contact a member of Pillsbury’s Communications Practice Group.
The authors thank Steve R. Brenner for his contributions to this article.