FBA Files Comments on Reforming the USF High-Cost Program

AUGUST 4, 2026 – The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) released the following statement this week after filing comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to its proceeding on reforming the Universal Service Fund’s High-Cost Program for an all-IP future:

“Universal service standards must evolve alongside Americans, growing connectivity needs. As consumers increasingly subscribe to higher-speed broadband services and rely on their connections for education, healthcare, public safety, remote work, precision agriculture, and other essential applications, the FCC should ensure that the High-Cost Program supports networks capable of meeting those needs now and into the future.

“FBA urges the FCC to use current market subscription data as a guidepost when updating the program’s broadband performance standards. Existing thresholds should reflect the services selected by most residential customers which includes the increasing demand for greater speed, lower latency, and high-performance connectivity.

“The FCC should also direct limited High-Cost funding to the communities where support is most needed and avoid subsidizing deployment in areas where a competitive provider has already built fiber infrastructure capable of meeting the FCC’s performance requirements.

“FBA looks forward to continuing to work with the FCC and broadband stakeholders to modernize the High-Cost Program, advance the goals of universal service, and ensure rural communities have access to networks capable of meeting their evolving connectivity needs.”

Read the full comments here: FBA Comments – High Cost USF NPRM 08042026