Consumers’ Research Asks FCC to Zero Out Q3 USF Contribution Factor
Consumers’ Research and other conservative interests are once again asking the FCC to zero out the USF contribution factor, this time for Q3 2025. The group filed the day after the FCC Office of Managing Director proposed a contribution factor of 36% for Q3 (see 2506110058). The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule in coming days on an appeal of a 5th Circuit en banc decision last summer, which found that the USF contribution factor is a "misbegotten tax.” Justices heard oral argument in that case in March (see 2503260061).
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“The Commission should reject the Proposed … Contribution Factor and refuse to permit additional revenue to be collected and paid into the Fund, which is unconstitutional, violates statutory authority, and is otherwise illegal,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 96-45. Among those endorsing the filing was Edward Blum, president of Students for Fair Admissions, which last year won a SCOTUS case that effectively ended race-based affirmative action policies in American college admissions, and other respondents listed on Consumers’ Research’s initial SCOTUS brief support the 5th Circuit decision.