Washington, DC- The Keep USF Fair Coalition is running a series of print ads in USA TODAY, Roll Call, Communications Daily, and The Hill calling attention to a FCC proposal that would change the Universal Service Fund’s (USF) collection methodology to a flat, per number fee.  The ads feature a cell phone with the text message, “Did U Hear the FCC May Raise Our Phone Taxes?” 

The ads highlight the negative impact a “flat fee” change could have on consumers.  “The FCC wants to shift the burden of Universal Service Fund funding from large corporate long distance users to residential and other low-volume telephone users, many of whom use little or no long distance,” the ad reads.

The Keep USF Fair Coalition also announced three new member organizations: the Latino Issues Forum and the National Hispanic Council on Aging represent minority and senior populations, the American Corn Growers Association represent rural farm interests. All three groups recognize that the constituencies they represent will be hurt if the FCC adopts a per-line, flat fee proposal, and are working to support efforts to keep the USF Fair and nondiscriminatory.  

In December, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators adopted a resolution at their convention, which supports the mission to keep the USF fair. 

“A drastic shift in USF funding support would hardest hit low-income, residential and low volume long distance users, a disproportionate number of whom are constituencies represented by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators” – Resolution 05-20.

To view the recent ads, NBSCL resolution and find out how you can take action, visit our website at www.keepUSFfair.org.

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The Keep USF Fair Coalition was formed in April 2004. Current members include Alliance for Public Technology, Alliance For Retired Americans, American Association Of People With Disabilities, American Corn Growers Association, American Council of the Blind, Black Leadership Forum, Consumer Action, Deafness Research Foundation, Gray Panthers,  Latino Issues Forum, League Of United Latin American Citizens,  National Association Of The Deaf,  National Grange, National Hispanic Council on Aging, National Native American Chamber of Commerce, Telecommunications Research & Action Center, and World Institute On Disability. The NAACP is a current supporter of the Keep USF Fair Coalition, and are among the many national organizations that have filed comments with the FCC in support of a non-regressive USF collection method.