[RTC List] Rural - Urban broadband policy work - Universal Service Fund

[Sean McLaughlin]

Here attached is press release from Media Access Project regarding FCC
comments produced as part of collaborative advocacy efforts for national
broadband policy.

Two local players from North Coast are involved - Access Humboldt and the
California Center for Rural Policy!

Summary:

*The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering revisions for
Universal Service Fund (USF) policies and priorities.  Annual USF
allocations are on the order of all the funding allocated for broadband
deployment, demand creation and adoption in the ARRA economic stimulus
legislation enacted in 2009.     *

* *

*A group of public interest organizations, organized by the Center for Rural
Strategies and Center for Media Justice - including two groups from
California's North Coast region, **Access Humboldt and **the California
Center for Rural Policy - joined together in offering these important formal
comments designed to bridge the concerns of both rural and urban
communities.
*

*Comments for the “Rural / Urban Commenters”* group were filed by Media
Access Project *offering two key positions:  *

*1.  The FCC should revise current USF policies to support deployment and
adoption of broadband.  *

*2.  The FCC can manage the USF resources more effectively by targeting
support to deployment and adoption of open broadband platforms that are
capable of delivering basic and advanced services.*

Rural / Urban Commenters noted, “the way to preserve existing basic services
in high-cost areas while expanding broadband deployment is to support the
construction of open broadband facilities over which such services may
flow.”

*Making the case for both rural and urban populations, “*In short, the
evolution of USF is an essential adaptation to maintain healthy digital
ecosystems for the least-served communities.”

Feel free to call me if you have questions about this filing or related
advocacy work of Access Humboldt.
_______________________



Sean McLaughlin
Executive Director
Access Humboldt
P.O. Box 157, Eureka, CA 95502
tel: 707-476-1798
dir: 707-476-2873
fax: 707-476-1702
cel: 707-616-2381
DC: 202-495-0616
e: sean at accesshumboldt.net
http://accesshumboldt.net
http://digitalredwoods.net

"Local Voices Through Community Media"



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kamilla Kovacs <kkovacs at mediaaccess.org>
Date: Tue, Dec 8, 2009 at 8:34 AM
Subject: Media Access Project and Rural/Urban Groups Ask FCC to Reform
Universal Service Program

 December 8, 2009

For Immediate Release



Contact: Kamilla Kovacs

Office: 202-454-5685

Mobile: 571-426-0466

kkovacs at mediaaccess.org



MEDIA ACCESS PROJECT AND RURAL/URBAN GROUPS ASK FCC TO

REFORM UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROGRAM



Emphasize Funding for Broadband Development



On behalf of a coalition of rural and urban community organizations, Media
Access Project (MAP) submitted comments to the Federal Communications
Commission on Monday, asking the Commission to use Universal Service Fund
monies to support the construction and adoption of broadband. MAP also
requested that the Commission take note of the recommendations provided by
public interest and community groups, rather than solely those of service
providers.



“The public, not telecommunications carriers, should be seen as the true
beneficiaries of Universal Service funding,” said Matt Wood, Associate
Director of Media Access Project and lead attorney for the coalition. “USF
was created to improve communications services for end-users in unserved and
high-cost regions of the country. The Commission must ensure that the
program lives up to its purpose by ensuring its efficiency and by reforming
it to support broadband development.”



Organizations joining in the filing included Access Humboldt, Appalshop,
California Center for Rural Policy, Center for Rural Strategies, Main Street
Project, Mountain Area Information Network, New Mexico Media Literacy
Project, Rural Broadband Policy Group, Center for Media Justice, Media
Action Grassroots Network, Thousand Kites, and Texas Media Empowerment
Project.



Media Access Project is a non-profit, public interest law firm dedicated to
promoting the public's First Amendment right to access a diverse marketplace
of ideas in mass media. For over 37 years, MAP has promoted the
public interest before the Federal Communications Commission, the
Federal Trade Commission, and the U.S. Courts, advocating for an open
and diverse telecommunications system that protects the free flow
of information, promotes universal and equitable access to communications
and technology services, and encourages vibrant public discourse on critical
issues facing our society.



###

Comments can be found at http://www.mediaaccess.org/file_download/350.


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