What Rural Communities Lose

If Congress passes legislation that effectively ends USF funding for wireless providers, rural communities will experience significant losses and a deep digital divide that extends far beyond the simple convenience of using a wireless phone. The following are just a few examples of what rural residents will face if the USF is not protected:

• Declining access to reliable, rural wireless coverage that negatively impacts consumers’ and first responders’ ability to deal with emergencies and safety threats—from car trouble to medical problems to natural disasters.
• No network construction in rural areas, leaving certain areas underserved or entirely without service, contrary to the goals of the Universal Service Fund.
• Slower economic development in rural regions where access to wireless service means attracting new industry, as well as encouraging the growth of tourism, farming and other rural enterprises.
• Reduced access to advanced services that have become the norm in urban areas, such as high-speed Internet and video downloading.