Universal Service at an Inflection Point: BEAD, USF, and Beyond
Please join us for a panel discussion providing a comprehensive overview of universal service in broadband policy with a discussion of possible legislative reforms.
Panelists will discuss universal service in broadband connectivity from its origins to the 1996 Telecommunications Act to today’s complex ecosystem of programs and funding mechanisms. Our expert panelists will examine key topics including:
- The FCC Universal Service Fund’s structure, funding mechanisms, and programs
- Historical context of universal service policy and how it has adapted to technological change
- Economic tradeoffs between market efficiency and equitable access
- Current challenges in program administration and funding sustainability
- The broader landscape of universal access initiatives, including the IIJA Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) programs
- Implications for emerging technologies, including infrastructure requirements and deployment of artificial intelligence use cases
This session will provide historical context and policy frameworks making it valuable for anyone seeking to better understand this critical aspect of telecommunications policy.
Speakers:
- Michelle Connolly, Professor of the Practice, Economics Department, Duke University
- Nick Degani, Chief Strategist, Digital Progress Institute
- Angie Kronenberg, President & CEO, Sligo Solutions LLC
- Blair Levin, Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution
- Jon Nuechterlein, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Technology Policy Institute
- Scott Wallsten (moderator), President and Senior Fellow, Technology Policy Institute
Where:
Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2322, Washington, DC 20515
When:
Wednesday, February 19, 2025, Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
