Summary
The Supreme Court will review a case challenging the FCC’s authority over the Universal Service Fund (USF), which subsidizes broadband for low-income, rural communities, schools, and libraries.
The case questions whether Congress improperly delegated lawmaking power to the FCC and whether the FCC gave too much authority to the nonprofit managing the fund.
This follows the Court’s rollback of Chevron doctrine, which diminishes reliance on agency expertise.
A Fifth Circuit ruling deemed the USF’s funding structure unconstitutional, raising concerns about the future of affordable broadband access nationwide.
So it’s dead.
Yeah, I think “will decide” is not really the case here.
Even if they revive the program, the incoming FCC chair has already said he’s going to kill it. It’s dead no matter what.
This is bigger than just fucking over poor people (which it it totally does). Every school in the country gets reduced internet costs thanks to USF, libraries can afford public WiFi for everyone thanks to USF, a lot of the broadband grants that came out after Covid had something to do with USF.
This is bigger than killing net neutrality, this is a step back from any public help for getting people connected.
Oh don’t worry. Net Neutrality is getting killed next. Trumps guy already said he’s axing anything like it.
Rule of law is out the window, why should we care what 9 random people have to say about our lives that have no effect on their own
As a reminder to everyone, you currently pay for the USF on every telecom bill you have.
It costs these companies practically nothing because they’re allowed to recover those funds from other customers via bill surcharges.
Also a reminder that you’re likely paying a couple surcharges for various programs these companies “completed” decades ago and lobbied to not have to finish but still charge customers for.
