MPA Comments to the Universal Service Fund Working Group Regarding USF Reform

The MPA believes that universal access to high-speed broadband for all Americans is of paramount importance to the growth and competitiveness of the U.S. economy. We commend the Working Group’s efforts to support this goal by considering reforms to the USF, which has helped American consumers access vital communications services. However, as described more fully in our comments, MPA believes proposals to expand the USF contribution base to video streaming services would not constitute sound public policy and present numerous logistical and technical challenges, none of which proponents of such proposals have adequately addressed. Moreover, expanding the contribution base to video streaming providers would disregard the considerable investments they make to support the Internet ecosystem. Adoption of such proposals also could slow national broadband adoption, harm market competition and video streaming industry diversity, and threaten the investments that video streaming providers make on a global scale to contribute to the competitiveness of the national economy. MPA thus urges the Working Group not to recommend expansion of the funding base to include video streaming providers.