RCA Supports Success-Based USF Reform

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                      Contact: Lucy Tutwiler

August 11, 2010                                                                                                          (202) 449-9866

RCA Supports Success-Based USF Reform

Washington, DC – Today, in filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission), RCA (Rural Cellular Association) urged the Commission to design new universal service mechanisms that are technology and competitively neutral, success-based, and targeted.  RCA supports the FCC’s objective to accelerate investment in broadband infrastructure and continues to call on the FCC to promote competition and efficient delivery of advanced broadband services as it works to reform the Universal Service Fund (USF).

In a statement regarding USF reform, RCA President & CEO Steven K. Berry said, “I commend the FCC’s goal to bring advance broadband services to 100 million U.S. homes, as all consumers should have affordable access to mobile and broadband services no matter where they live.  The Commission’s proposed broadband speed target of 4 Mbps down and 1Mbps up is one of the highest speed rate targets for any nation in the world, but is reasonable and can be accomplished with multiple technologies.  The Commission’s proposed broadband speed targets will ensure consumers in rural and high-cost areas have broadband services comparable to their urban counterparts.”

Berry continued, “Requiring higher broadband speeds would discourage competition by preventing wireless providers from participating, and also would be costly.  Numerous studies have shown that wireless is the most efficient and cost-effective means to deploy broadband, and I encourage the FCC to look to the future of wireless and craft USF mechanisms that are success-based and technology and competitively neutral.”

About RCA

RCA is the nation's leading association for wireless providers serving rural areas of the United States. The licensed service area of RCA's nearly 90 members covers more than 80 percent of the nation.

# # #