WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today issued this statement after the FCC voted to initiate a rulemaking to reform the Universal Service Fund (USF):

“I congratulate the FCC for taking up the task of universal service reform. Updating this program—by sharpening its focus on areas of the country without modern communications infrastructure and by improving accountability—is the right thing to do. If this is done well, we can help provide broadband and wireless service to every corner of this nation. This is vital to our future economic and global competitiveness—and essential to making sure no American is left behind in our digital age.”

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