Support strengthening safeguards for the Universal Service Fund so the program serves hard-to-reach areas.

Strengthening safeguards for the Universal Service Fund and ensuring the program is serving hard-to-reach areas through the Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025;

He backed legislation to protect the Universal Service Fund and improve rural broadband access.

Congressman Rogers Continues Efforts to Expand Services and Federal Support in Rural America - Press Releases - U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers
primary · press_release · model gpt-5.4-mini

GovInfo identifies Public Law 104-104 as the Telecommunications Act of 1996, approved February 8, 1996, bill number S. 652. Its legislative history says the House passed S. 652 and later agreed to the conference report.

The enacted federal law created the modern statutory universal service framework during Rogers's House tenure, but this source does not by itself prove Rogers's individual vote or sponsorship.

partial unknown

Public Law 104-104 - Telecommunications Act of 1996
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 72%

Section 254 says universal service policies should provide access in all regions, including rural, insular, and high-cost areas, with services reasonably comparable to urban areas. It also requires equitable contributions and specific, predictable, sufficient support mechanisms.

The statutory language directly matches the promise's hard-to-reach-area goal and includes safeguards about contributions and support mechanisms, but it is the baseline law rather than a later Rogers-specific strengthening action.

partial unknown

Telecommunications Act of 1996, Section 254 - Universal Service
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 78%

Section 254(e) limits federal universal service support to eligible telecommunications carriers and says a recipient must use that support only for the intended provision, maintenance, and upgrading of facilities and services.

This is an official safeguard requiring USF recipients to be eligible carriers and restricting use of support to intended services, supporting partial fulfillment of the safeguards element.

partial unknown

Telecommunications Act of 1996, Section 254 - Universal Service
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 80%

The FCC said it comprehensively reformed and modernized universal service and intercarrier compensation, adopting accountable, incentive-based policies and a framework to distribute universal service funding efficiently through mechanisms such as competitive bidding.

The 2011 FCC order is strong evidence that federal USF safeguards were strengthened and funding was redirected toward broadband deployment in costly-to-serve communities, but it was an FCC action rather than a Rogers-sponsored bill.

delivered unknown

FCC 11-161 - Connect America Fund; USF/ICC Transformation Order
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 82%

The order created Mobility Fund support for unserved areas, added Tribal support for remote and underserved areas, allocated Remote Areas Fund support for the most remote areas, and established national certification, reporting, oversight, and noncompliance consequences.

This directly supports the promise's two core elements: serving hard-to-reach areas and strengthening safeguards through reporting, oversight, and enforcement rules.

delivered unknown

FCC 11-161 - Connect America Fund; USF/ICC Transformation Order
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 85%

GAO found FCC had implemented funding reforms for small rural carriers and had some policies to manage fraud risks, but its efforts did not fully align with GAO's fraud-risk framework. GAO made five recommendations.

GAO confirms reforms and safeguards existed but also shows they were incomplete as of 2019, which weighs against treating the promise as fully and durably fulfilled at that point.

partial unknown

Telecommunications: FCC Should Take Additional Action to Manage Fraud Risks in Its Program to Support Broadband Service in High-Cost Areas
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 86%

GAO's recommendation tracker shows three FCC fraud-risk recommendations closed as implemented in 2024, including a Fraud Risk Group, regular high-cost fraud-risk assessments, and an antifraud strategy. Two model-based support recommendations remained open.

By the latest GAO status visible before the as-of date, FCC had strengthened several anti-fraud safeguards for USF high-cost support, but unresolved recommendations mean the overall promise is best rated partial rather than fully delivered on this record.

partial unknown

Telecommunications: FCC Should Take Additional Action to Manage Fraud Risks in Its Program to Support Broadband Service in High-Cost Areas
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 84%

The FCC adopted Enhanced A-CAM to support 100/20 Mbps broadband in rural areas served by carriers receiving A-CAM or legacy rate-of-return support, while minimizing ratepayer burden and avoiding duplicative support with other programs.

The 2023 order shows continuing federal action to target high-cost rural areas and improve efficiency safeguards. It supports partial delivery, especially because it is administrative action rather than Rogers-specific action.

partial unknown

FCC 23-60 - Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model and High-Cost USF Reform
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 79%

The FCC described Broadband DATA Act mapping and challenge processes, noted use of maps for new broadband deployment funding awards, and summarized prior USF high-cost reforms including reverse auctions for unserved and underserved areas.

This supports the safeguards side of the promise by showing newer mapping and challenge tools intended to target awards to areas that actually lack broadband, reducing misallocation risk.

partial unknown

FCC 23-60 - Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model and High-Cost USF Reform
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 77%