Keep Our Communities Connected

Keep Our Communities Connected is an uncommon movement to support the continuation of Universal Service Funds including ERATE, Lifeline, High Cost and Rural Healthcare programs. 

This broad movement, including rural communities, school districts, nonprofits,  businesses, tech companies, and public service organizations, united to protect and ensure the continuation of universal service funds. We advocate for affordable and reliable telecommunications access for all, emphasizing its role in bridging the digital divide, fostering economic growth, and connecting communities.

The concept of universal service in the United States was established in legislation with the Communications Act of 1934. The idea behind universal service is that all Americans should have access to a baseline level of telecommunications service. 

The Universal Service Fund is a $8 billion decades-old mechanism created by Congress in 1996 to support vital communications investments where the marketplace falls short: connecting schools and libraries to high-speed internet; helping rural hospitals adopt telemedicine; ensuring low-income households have basic communications services; and investing in broadband in communities that need it most.  As required by law, telecommunications carriers contribute a portion of their revenues to the Universal Service Fund.  

Whether your organization is small or large, in education, healthcare, or business, leans left or right, or is firmly in the center, whether you live in an urban, suburban, or rural community, your voice and partnership are valued and welcomed in this movement to keep our communities connected.

This effort will require bipartisan collaboration and a wide range of actions—from submitting judicial amici briefs to mobilizing grassroots support and organizing effective communications. By pooling our resources, expertise, and influence, we can achieve a more significant, long-term solution to the recent misguided court decision threatening the USF Program.

We need your support to make this vision a reality.

Here’s how you can help:

1. Join the Movement – Add your voice and help us grow the champions of this cause.https://www.keepourcommunitiesconnected.com/contact 

2. Write to Congress – Advocate for a bipartisan, bicameral solution to protect the USF Program.

   
   

Together, we can ensure the continued success and sustainability of the USF. Let’s act now to safeguard this vital resource for communities nationwide.