There must be a reasonable period of time included in the base rate, or the usage charge must be quite low as it is for measured service in urban areas, or there could be some combination of the two. A relatively low monthly charge with high per minute charges does not meet the Universal Service Principle of service that is reasonably comparable to that found in urban areas. Such service would discourage Internet connections. The Internet is quickly becoming a way for parents, students and teachers to stay in touch. Homework assignments are posted.
Parents can keep track of student progress and make contact with teachers.
The elderly can maintain contact with the world. Perhaps most important, Internet access is crucial for rural students. High usage charges means no student Internet access. At a time when the Internet with its long hold times is expected to become a dominant form of telephone use, a service with a high usage charge should not be supported by Universal Service Funds since it encourages precisely the opposite of the results intended by the Act. Although the local usage component will be determined by the States, it is important that the Commission not adopt an outside plant design which ignores the rate characteristics of the technology employed and thus, might preclude the States from setting a reasonable local usage component if it adopts the Federal model.