A recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund means that internet access will continue to be federally supported at the Homer Public Library.

The Universal Service Fund, according to a June 27 press release by the Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition, is a “decades-old” telecommunication fund administered by the Federal Communications Commission that provides affordable broadband through four “key” programs including E-rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline and High Cost. Also according to the release, SHLB was a named party and petitioner in two consolidated court cases, FCC v. Consumers’ Research and SHLB v. Consumers’ Research, that challenged the FCC’s authority to administer the Universal Service Fund. Consumers’ Research, a free-market advocacy organization, originally filed suit against the USF in 2023.

The decision handed down by the Supreme Court on June 27 means that the fund is legally permitted to continue to help provide broadband access for “millions of students, library patrons and community members around the country in both rural and urban areas.”

In particular interest to the Homer Public Library is the e-rate program, which is geared specifically toward schools and libraries. Library director Dave Berry explained in an email to Homer News last Friday that the federal e-rate subsidy provides HPL with about $15,000 annually, covering 70% of the library’s internet bill. Homer News also previously reported that 60% of the Seldovia Public Library’s annual internet costs are covered by e-rate.

Berry wrote that the library had received an award letter for the upcoming year, but funding “remained uncertain” due to the program being challenged in court.

“We’re glad e-rate will continue to support internet access for patrons across the country, particularly in rural areas,” he wrote. “Without the support of the federal government, providing rural citizens with electronic resources could easily become prohibitively expensive.”

According to previous reporting by Homer News, the remaining 30% of HPL’s annual internet costs is covered by the Alaska Online With Libraries program, administered by the Alaska State Library, which also relies on federal funding.

For further information on how federal funding or funding losses affect the Homer Public Library, visit www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/library/federal-funding-homer-public-library.