3060-AK57 202510 The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 3060 Federal Communications Commission FCC Universal Service

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 expanded the traditional goal of universal service to include increased access to both telecommunications and advanced services such as high-speed internet for all consumers at just, reasonable, and affordable rates. The Act established principles for universal service that specifically focused on increasing access to evolving services for consumers living in rural and insular areas, and for consumers with low-incomes. Additional principles called for increased access to high-speed internet in the nation’s schools, libraries, and rural healthcare facilities. The FCC established four programs within the Universal Service Fund to implement the statute: Connect America Fund (formally known as High-Cost Support) for rural areas; Lifeline (for low-income consumers), including initiatives to expand phone service for Native Americans; Schools and Libraries (E-rate); and Rural Healthcare.

On November 14, 2024, the Commission adopted the Alaska Connect Fund to further address broadband needs in Alaska.

]]> Substantive, Nonsignificant Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Long-Term Actions No No Other 47 CFR 54 47 U.S.C. 151 et seq. No R&O and FNPRM 01/13/2017 82 FR 4275 NPRM Comment Period End 02/13/2017 NPRM Reply Comment Period End 02/27/2017 R&O and Order on Recon 03/21/2017 82 FR 14466 Order on Recon 05/19/2017 82 FR 22901 Order on Recon 06/08/2017 82 FR 26653 Memorandum, Opinion & Order 06/21/2017 82 FR 228224 NPRM 07/30/2019 84 FR 36865 NPRM 08/21/2019 84 FR 43543 R&O and Order on Recon 11/07/2019 84 FR 59937 Order on Recon 12/09/2019 84 FR 67220 R&O 12/20/2019 84 FR 70026 R&O 12/27/2019 84 FR 71308 R&O 01/17/2020 85 FR 3044 Report & Order 03/10/2020 85 FR 13773 Report & Order 05/11/2020 85 FR 19892 Declaratory Ruling/2nd FNPRM 08/04/2020 85 FR 48134 Public Notice 03/22/2021 86 FR 15172 Report & Order on Recon 04/09/2021 86 FR 18459 R&O 05/28/2021 86 FR 29136 2nd R&O 07/14/2021 86 FR 37061 Public Notice 08/02/2021 86 FR 41408 NPRM 10/14/2021 86 FR 57097 Order 12/14/2021 86 FR 70983 NPRM 01/27/2022 87 FR 4182 FNPRM 03/15/2022 87 FR 14422 NPRM 06/16/2022 87 FR 36283 NPRM 06/23/2022 87 FR 37459 2nd R&O 09/06/2022 87 FR 54311 3rd R&O 09/06/2022 87 FR 54401 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 11/19/2022 87 FR 67660 Public Notice 01/06/2023 88 FR 1035 NPRM 03/13/2023 88 FR 14529 Public Notice 04/11/2023 88 FR 21580 Report and Order on Review 05/05/2023 88 FR 28993 Order 06/05/2023 88 FR 36510 Report and Order, NPRM, and NOI 08/18/2023 88 FR 56579 Report and Order, NPRM, and NOI 08/23/2023 88 FR 57383 Report and Order, and FNPRM 11/13/2023 88 FR 77522 Report and Order, and NPRM 11/17/2023 88 FR 80238 NPRM 12/07/2023 88 FR 85157 NPRM 12/09/2023 88 FR 90141 3rd Report and Order 01/11/2024 89 FR 1834 Report and Order 01/31/2024 89 FR 6021 NPRM 07/05/2024 89 FR 55542 Report and Order 07/30/2024 89 FR 61282 2nd Report and Order 08/20/2024 89 FR 67383 FNPRM 08/20/2024 89 FR 67394 Report and Order & NPRM 12/04/2024 89 FR 96166 Next Action Undetermined To Be Determined YES Businesses Governmental Jurisdictions Local State No Yes No 3060-AF85 Previously reported as Nakesha Woodward Program Analyst 3060 Federal Communications Commission FCC 202 418-1502 kesha.woodward@fcc.gov Wireline Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington DC 20554