A hearing was held to examine the universal service programs designed to provide a baseline level of affordable voice telecommunications service to everyone in the United States in light of the rise of Internet-based broadband communications technologies and the changing marketplace. Under the 1996 Telecommunications Act the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) administers four federal universal service programs: High Cost, Low Income, Schools and Libraries, and Rural Health Care. Topics included criteria for recipients of support, amount of support, types of support, providers of supported services, and its administration.