Broadband networks and services drive the national and state economies. Ubiquitous deployment can
only raise standards of living and bring major advances in education, healthcare, teleworking, e-commerce,
public safety and security. State and federal policymakers have to find ways to assure that networks are
promptly and efficiently deployed. There are many tools that can be brought to bear, including State and
Federal Tax incentives, Grants, Universal Service subsidy programs, other targeted spending programs, and
providing access to lower cost capitol. But it is impossible to accurately target any of these mechanisms without
an accurate map indicating unserved and underserved areas that need assistance. Another possibility is to
leverage the infrastructure of other utilities. At the national level, the FCC is currently considering how to
make the national broadband maps more accurate and granular. In the current environment, there is still much
that can be done. This task force will work to identify:
1. How some States have successfully shifted state universal service funds from telephone and
op ex support to broadband buildout capital support and any lessons learned that other states could utilize;
2. What other state programs are successfully building out broadband, how are they funded, and
how are they structured;
3. How NARUC and NARUC members can best work with the FCC to help craft Universal
Service Fund programs that will be most successful at expanding broadband into unserved areas;
4. Electric and gas utilities who have successfully leveraged their infrastructure to provide
broadband service, including lessons learned from considering any regulatory hurdles, project funding
mechanisms, the relative financial success for the utility, how (or should) State commissions incentivize such
projects, and whether the overall approach can be replicated elsewhere.
5. Information related to the impacts of rural broadband deployment on economic development,
education, healthcare, quality of life, the delivery of public utilities services and its ultimate benefits to
customers.
