What is the Coalition to Keep America Connected?
What caused these groups to come together?
What problem are you trying to address by coming together?
Are you solely focused on universal service?
What is universal service?
Is the fund just for remote areas?
Why is universal service so important?
Who pays for the Universal Service Fund?
Who is eligible for universal service support?
What is the source of the money used to pay for Universal Service support?
How much money is currently in the Universal Service Fund?
Who administers the Universal Service Fund?
Which telecommunications services are supported by the Universal Service Fund?
How do I join the coalition?
If my company or organization joins the coalition, what does that mean?
What can I do to get involved?
Where can I get more information?
If I have a question that is not listed here, who can I contact?

What is the Coalition to Keep America Connected?

The Coalition to Keep America Connected is dedicated to ensuring that all consumers have access to affordable telecommunications services and the latest technologies, no matter where they live. The effort is organized by four rural telecom associations, whose memberships include more than 700 small and midsize communications companies. Together these companies serve millions of consumers and 40% of the landmass across America.

What caused these groups to come together?

We share the common belief that as Congress updates our telecom laws, rural consumers deserve representation. We serve as a collective voice for all rural consumers, and our mission is to ensure that all Americans have access to the latest telecommunications services at an affordable price.

What problem are you trying to address by coming together?

The coalition will represent rural telecom consumers on any issue Congress considers relative to the rewrite of our nation s telecom laws, and that impacts rural telecom consumers. Specifically, we want to ensure that all Americans are treated equally and fairly, and that reforms do not result in a digital divide that disconnects rural consumers from the next generation of telecommunications services.

Are you solely focused on universal service?

Universal service is a primary concern at this time, but we do anticipate other issues arising that may impact rural consumers.

What is universal service?

The goal of universal service was established by the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure all consumers in the country receive the same affordable, quality telecommunications services, regardless of geographic location. The breakup of AT&T in 1983 and the ensuing competitive environment resulted in the establishment of the federal universal service funding mechanism, the Universal Service Fund, to ensure all Americans can receive affordable telephone service, no matter where they live. The concept of universal service is as valid for future telecommunications services as it is for telephone services.

Is the fund just for remote areas?

USF consists of four programs. In addition to the High Cost Program, which offsets the higher cost of deployment of network infrastructure to serve those in rural and insular areas of the country, USF consists of the Low Income Program, the Schools and Libraries Program and the Rural Health Care Program. These three programs ensure that all Americans can connect and stay connected to the telecommunications network as well as ensuring affordable advanced telecom services are available to schools and libraries and provides rural Americans' with access to state of the art health care services.

Why is universal service so important?

Universal service support is critical to our nation s ability to meet commerce, national security and public health and safety goals and to the availability and affordability of advanced telecommunications services for all Americans regardless of geographic location or socio-economic status.

Who pays for the Universal Service Fund?

Universal service is supported by all telecommunications carriers that provide service between states. This includes long-distance companies, local telephone companies, wireless telephone companies, paging companies, and pay phone providers.

Who is eligible for universal service support?

All of our nation s communities including remote areas, low-income neighborhoods, rural health care providers, and public and private schools are eligible to seek support from the USF. While the fund benefits all consumers, only companies that provide telecommunications and other services may draw money directly from the USF.

What is the source of the money used to pay for Universal Service support?

All telecommunications carriers that provide interstate telecommunications services are required to contribute to universal service support mechanisms.

How much money is currently in the Universal Service Fund?

USF is a nearly $7 billion annual program.

Who administers the Universal Service Fund?

The Universal Service Administrative Co., a private, not for profit corporation created by the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) in 1996 at the direction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Which telecommunications services are supported by the Universal Service Fund?

There are nine USF-supported services:

'Single-party service;
'voice grade access to the public switched telephone network;
'local usage (an amount of minutes for local use);
'dual tone multifrequency signaling;
'access to emergency services;
'access to operator services; Access to interexchange service;
'access to directory assistance, and;
'toll limitation service for qualifying low-income consumers.

How do I join the coalition?

To join the Coalition to Keep America Connected, visit the 'Join Us' section of our Web site, www.keepamericaconnected.org.

If my company or organization joins the coalition, what does that mean?

By joining the Coalition to Keep America Connected, your company or organization agrees to support the philosophy and three guiding principles of the coalition. These principles are embraced by all members of the Coalition to Keep America Connected, who are working to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable telecommunications services and the latest technologies, no matter where they live.

What can I do to get involved?

To become a member of the Coalition to Keep America Connected, visit the Join Us section of our Web site, www.keepamericaconnected.org

Where can I get more information?

For more information on the Coalition to Keep America Connected, visit the 'Who We Are' section of our Web site, www.keepamericaconnected.org.

If I have a question that is not listed here, who can I contact?

Contact the Coalition to Keep America Connected at info@keepamericaconnected.org,
or call 703-351-2148.