The Federal Communications Commission is considering changes to the universal service fund, and that could have an impact on expansion of high speed, broadband internet service.
South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Chairman, Chris Nelson, says those funds have been used to pay for broadband services in rural areas…..

Nelson says the fund also subsidizes service to a number of other users….

Since 1934, land line telephone customers have paid into the universal fund, but since those lines are rapidly being disconnected, the funding source is drying up.
Some states have their own universal service fund, but Nelson says South Dakota does not…..

The FCC may extend the service charges to broadband so more users pay into the fund.