We Need Universal Service to Keep You Connected:
A Message from General Manager Dave Carter

Universal Service Fund (USF) resources help level the playing field so that all Americans can have access to telecommunications services. It is no secret that rural areas like ours are more expensive to wire due to lower population density and greater distances.

On the national level, some would disadvantage rural cooperatives like CheqTel by altering USF and by continuing to exempt cable, wireless, electric and satellite broadband Internet providers from contributing to this revenue pool that forms the rate structure for higher cost rural areas like ours. Because these companies often access rural networks, it is only fair that they contribute. We are actively working to ensure that USF continues to enable fair and equal communications access for all customers.

When you consider all that USF makes possible right here, there's no way we can continue to bring so much to our rural communities apart from those who connect to share the cost.

Rural carriers like CheqTel are delivering broadband services and have made significant infrastructure investments under the existing USF system that allows us to make service available at low, competitive prices. USF is not a tax. It is assessed on telecommunications carriers, not consumers.