Rural Consumers Benefit From Wireless Competition.

While the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service held a hearing to discuss the Universal Service Fund eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) process and rules, the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) reiterated its position on the issue, arguing that no changes should be made to the support rules of the High-Cost Fund that would discriminate against rural consumers of wireless services.

“Changing the rules to squeeze wireless carriers’ access to the High-Cost Fund will only curtail competition and choice for rural consumers,” said Steve Berry, Senior Vice President for Government Relations. “America’s rural consumers deserve the benefits of telecommunications competition as much as their urban counterparts.”

“For every dollar wireless carriers receive from the Universal Service Fund, the incumbent wireline telephone companies have increased their take by more than fifteen times. Wireline carriers still take 96% of the support flowing from the High-Cost Fund. The High-Cost Fund was never intended to be an exclusive subsidy for rural wireline carriers,” added Berry.