CWA Statement in Response to the Supreme Court Hearing Oral Argument on the Universal Service Fund

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the Supreme Court hearing oral argument in Consumers’ Research v. Federal Communications Commission considering the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) releases the following statement:

We firmly believe the decades-old Universal Service Fund is fully constitutional and look forward to the Supreme Court affirming that position.

We can’t let today’s Supreme Court case distract us from the bigger problem: that Congress must act now to reform the Universal Service Fund and ensure its viability for the future. We need to update the program for the internet age, to ensure that the major players who benefit from our networks contribute their fair share to universal service in this country, and to ensure that we can provide the broadband affordability programs that our economy needs. Congress must move forward with contribution reform to the USF program and not overreact to an extremist legal position threatening the program’s constitutionality. If the Supreme Court were to make a decision jeopardizing the USF—which would be in sharp contrast with the overwhelming public support conveyed in amicus briefs from the communications sector, labor, schools, libraries, health care providers, low-income advocates, and others—Congress should be ready to quickly address that decision in a manner targeted to the Court’s opinion and complementary to the necessary structural reforms.

Every American household, business, hospital, library, and school should have access to affordable communications services no matter where they are located, and the Universal Service Fund is critical to making that happen. CWA members include technicians and customer support representatives who build and service broadband networks. We see the positive impact of these programs every day. As fiber broadband networks expand, the Universal Service programs will be even more important to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to realize the benefits that high-speed internet service provides.

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About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

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