Tom Johnson Discusses Universal Service Provisions in Senate Infrastructure Bill

August 3, 2021

Thomas M. Johnson, Jr., co-chair of Wiley’s Issues and Appeals Practice, was quoted by Bloomberg Law regarding efforts to modernize the Universal Service Fund as part of the Senate infrastructure package. The bill would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to report to Congress on ways to improve the fund’s effectiveness in achieving universal broadband access.

The fund “has too often been subject to waste, fraud, and abuse, and the unsustainable contribution factor ultimately means that consumers pay more than necessary for essential communications services like broadband,” said Mr. Johnson, who previously served as General Counsel of the FCC.

He said if the bill becomes law, “the requirement for the FCC to submit a report on universal service goals will start a much-needed conversation on how to reform this program to account for decades of technological development since it was adopted in its modern form in 1996.”

The article can be found here (subscription required).