Sign of the times?   No longer are universal service subsidies offered for bare bones basic service; broadband is being considered for subsidy.  With massive amounts piling up in the USF, they need to be innovative to get it out.  Of course, there is another option: reduce or eliminate the US levies.  

TRAI issues draft recommendations for broadband growth

Dismayed by the poor penetration of broadband services, telecom regulator TRAI today brought out a new draft that recommends subsidising the service in remote and hilly areas.
Such subsidies could be accessed by broadband service providers after they are made eligible for support from the Universal Service Obligation Fund, to which telecom companies contribute a portion of their profits.

In the draft suggestions, it said said USO funds be provided as subsidy for providing broadband services through satellite in remote and hilly areas where back haul charges were initially up to 40 per cent.

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