Attorney General Mayes Leads Bipartisan Effort to Protect Rural Internet and Phone Access
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Attorney General Mayes Leads Bipartisan Effort to Protect Rural Internet and Phone Access

Arizona joins 23 states urging the Supreme Court to uphold the Universal Service Fund, a lifeline for rural communities.

PHOENIX – As the U.S. Supreme Court deliberates on a case that could significantly impact internet and phone services in rural areas, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is spearheading a bipartisan effort to preserve the Universal Service Fund (USF). This critical program supports telecommunications infrastructure for millions of rural Americans.

“Access to reliable internet and phone services isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity for schools, health care providers, and families in rural Arizona,” Mayes said in a statement. “The Universal Service Fund has been a cornerstone in ensuring these communities stay connected. Striking down this vital program would jeopardize the infrastructure that rural Arizonans and Americans rely on every day. My office is proud to lead this bipartisan effort to safeguard these essential services.”

Background on the Universal Service Fund

Established under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the USF promotes nationwide communication services by funding infrastructure for rural areas, schools, and low-income users. Administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), a nonprofit organization overseen by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the program makes it financially feasible for providers to deliver service in underserved areas.

Legal Challenge to the USF

The USF faces a 2021 legal challenge arguing that Congress delegated excessive power to the FCC to administer the program and that the FCC has improperly delegated authority to USAC. While multiple courts have upheld the USF’s constitutionality, the full Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently struck down the program.

The Supreme Court is now considering the consolidated cases Federal Communications Commission v. Consumers’ Research and Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition v. Consumers’ Research. The outcomes could determine the future of internet and phone service access for rural communities nationwide.

Arizona’s Leadership in a Bipartisan Effort

In a brief filed today, Arizona, joined by 23 other states and territories, argues that the USF has constitutionally fulfilled its intended purpose, benefiting communities across the nation. States signing onto the brief include Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, and Wisconsin, among others.

The Stakes for Rural Communities

Without the USF, rural areas could lose essential communication services that are integral to education, healthcare, and everyday life. “Striking down the Universal Service Fund would devastate rural communities that depend on this program for affordable, reliable connectivity,” Mayes said.

The Supreme Court’s decision will have profound implications for the future of rural communications infrastructure in Arizona and across the United States.