Carr Applauds Introduction of FAIR Contributions Act 
Momentum Continues to Build for Ending Big Tech’s Free Ride 

WASHINGTON, DC, July 21, 2021—Today, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr praised the introduction of the FAIR Contributions Act by Senators Roger Wicker, Shelley Moore Capito, and Todd Young.  Their legislation would direct the FCC to study and report to Congress on the feasibility of funding the Universal Service Fund through contributions from Big Tech.  In a May op-ed, Commissioner Carr called for Big Tech to pay its fair share towards Internet builds in rural areas and other efforts to close the digital divide.

“I applaud Senators Wicker, Capito, and Young for introducing the FAIR Contributions Act.  For too long, Big Tech has been enjoying a free ride on our Internet infrastructure.  The current funding mechanism for the Universal Service Fund—a regressive tax on the monthly bills for traditional telephone service, both wireless and wireline—is unfair and unsustainable.  Indeed, it’s like taxing horseshoes to pay for highways.

“Requiring Big Tech to contribute is more than fair.  It is consistent with the network compact that has prevailed since the earliest days of America’s communications networks.  Historically, the businesses that derived the greatest benefit from a communications network paid the lion’s share of the costs.  I am pleased that the FAIR Contributions Act would call on the FCC to open a proceeding to look at ending the charge on consumers’ monthly telephone bills and shifting a fair amount over to Big Tech.”

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Office of Commissioner Brendan Carr
www.fcc.gov/about/leadership/brendan-carr
Media Contact:  Danielle Thumann
(202) 418-0376 or danielle.thumann@fcc.gov