ARLINGTON, Va. – In a win for electric co-ops and other rural broadband providers, the Supreme Court today rejected arguments that would have upended Universal Service Fund support for communications services throughout the country. The Court ruled 6-3 to preserve the fund in FCC v. Consumers’ Research. National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson issued the following statement.
“Electric co-ops across the country are leading the charge to bring affordable, reliable broadband service to rural communities, and the USF plays a crucial role in supporting that mission,” Matheson said. “Today’s Supreme Court decision is a win for rural America, and preserves access to critical support for rural broadband providers and the communities they serve.”
NRECA previously submitted a joint amicus brief urging the Court to sustain the USF for supporting rural broadband deployment and adoption.
More than 200 rural electric cooperatives across the U.S. are working to bridge the digital divide and bring the transformative benefits of broadband to their communities. The FCC is an important partner in amplifying these efforts and expanding access to affordable broadband in rural areas.
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the national trade association representing nearly 900 local electric cooperatives, including over 200 co-ops involved in bringing reliable broadband service to their communities. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric cooperatives in broadband play a crucial role in closing the digital divide by connecting rural America to affordable high-speed internet service. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric co-ops in broadband have meaningful ties to rural America and empower their communities with new ways to live, learn and earn.
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