le OS Broadband For All (NAPSA)—Fixing the economy requires communication. Universal access to communications servicesis vital to national growth and prosperity, something policy makers recognized when they established a universal service policy to ensure telephone service at the sameprice for all Americans. Whether upgrading existing copper linesor installing fiber optics, broadband deployment is well under wayin rural Ameri The universal service fund (USF), which has helped phone companies build and maintain telephoneinfrastructure, is also goingto be essential in supporting a broadbandnetwork. Congress and the FCC haveset their sights on bringing broadbandtoall Americans through the National Broadband Plan. Policy makers should consider that without USF support for broadband networks, the true cost of telecom in rural communities could prove unaffordable to many consumers, small businesses, schools and libraries. USF will be even more important in the future as small communications providers strive to accommodate growing consumer demand. For more information, visit www.ntca.org.
