Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown is leading a bipartisan effort to protect internet and phone services for millions of rural Americans, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to preserve a crucial fund that supports these vital services.
As the Court reviews the case of ‘Federal Communications Commission v. Consumers’ Research’, Attorney General Brown has joined a coalition of 23 state officials in filing an amicus brief in support of the Universal Service Fund (USF). The USF was established under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to ensure reliable and affordable communication services across the nation, particularly for underserved rural areas, schools, and low-income communities.
“Connectivity is essential in today’s world,” said Attorney General Brown. “Whether it’s staying in touch with family, paying bills, or completing school assignments, millions of Marylanders and Americans depend on these services. Rural communities should not be denied access to the tools they need to thrive.”
“Thousands of schools, libraries, and health care facilities across the country rely on funding from the FCC’s Universal Service Fund to operate, and shutting it down would have devastating consequences,” argued Attorney General Letitia James. “This program has been a crucial lifeline to provide phone and internet services to rural communities who need it and that is why my office is fighting to keep it. I am proud to join my fellow attorneys general in urging the Supreme Court to uphold this critical program that has helped millions nationwide.”
The case at hand challenges the constitutionality of the USF, which is managed by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), a nonprofit created by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The group Consumers’ Research, which initiated the legal challenge, claims that Congress granted excessive power to the FCC and USAC in managing the fund. While lower courts have dismissed the challenge, a ruling by the full Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals invalidated the program, prompting the Supreme Court to step in.
“Coloradans rely on the Universal Service Fund for internet and phone service in their communities and they could lose affordable service if the Supreme Court nullifies the fund,” said Attorney General Phil Weiser. “For rural Coloradans, affordable broadband, wireline, and wireless service is essential to their participation in the modern economy, access to education and health care, and participation in our democratic republic. That’s why Congress created this important program. Getting rid of it would be devastating for Colorado communities and the providers that serve them.”
“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,” said Attorney General Kris Mayes. “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.”
In their brief, Brown and his colleagues argue that the USF is crucial for providing affordable phone and internet services to rural residents, schools, libraries, and low-income families across the country, including Maryland. These services enable access to essential resources such as healthcare, education, and employment opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach for many communities.
By filing the brief, Attorney General Brown joins a diverse coalition of state leaders from across the country, including officials from Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, among others. Together, they are urging the Supreme Court to uphold the program that has helped bridge the digital divide for millions of Americans.
As the nation increasingly relies on digital communication, the stakes in this case are high for rural and underserved communities who depend on the USF to stay connected.
