Book Description

Provides an overview of current federal and state universal service support programs and discusses the potential impact of emerging Internet-based voice communications on how these programs are funded. The long-standing goal of universal service -- affordable residential telephone service for all Americans -- has resulted in a variety of federal and state support programs. Over the years, these programs have evolved as the telephone industry's structure changed and universal service benefits were extended to new groups, such as schools and libraries. Charts and tables.