Caption
155 shell bodies sit on a pallet at General Dynamics ready to be shipped on August 20, 2025, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. (Getty Images)
Hudson Institute hosted Commissioner Michael O’Rielly to discuss the capping of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Federal Universal Service Fund (USF). The conversation was moderated by the Director of Hudson’s Center for the Economics of the Internet Harold Furchtgott-Roth.
Initiated under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the USF was developed to encourage investment in universal telecommunications access. Funded entirely by telecommunications services user fees, the size of the USF has grown in recent years to more than $10 billion annually. This has led some in the FCC, including Commissioner O’Rielly and Chairman Ajit Pai, and members of Congress to propose a budget cap for the fund. Commissioner O’Rielly will discuss the implications of a budget cap on the USF.
Related Events
17
November 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The Tenth US-ROK Joint Public-Private Economic Forum: Advancing Economic Security and Industrial Strength
Featured Speakers:
Kim Jina
Senator Bill Hagerty
Kurt Campbell
Elaine L. Chao
Ambassador Joseph Y. Yun
Wendy Cutler
Michael Coulter
Brent Sadler
Troy Stangarone
Arielle Roth
Jane Nakano
Nick Snyder
Sek Hwan Hong
Jiyoon Lee
Kayla T. Orta
Scott Snyder
Cordell Hull
Moderators:
Patrick M. Cronin
Brigham A. McCown
Bryan Clark
17
November 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The Tenth US-ROK Joint Public-Private Economic Forum: Advancing Economic Security and Industrial Strength
Join Hudson Institute for the tenth United States–Republic of Korea Joint Public-Private Economic Forum on November 17.
Featured Speakers:
Kim Jina
Senator Bill Hagerty
Kurt Campbell
Elaine L. Chao
Ambassador Joseph Y. Yun
Wendy Cutler
Michael Coulter
Brent Sadler
Troy Stangarone
Arielle Roth
Jane Nakano
Nick Snyder
Sek Hwan Hong
Jiyoon Lee
Kayla T. Orta
Scott Snyder
Cordell Hull
Moderators:
Patrick M. Cronin
Brigham A. McCown
Bryan Clark
17
November 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Overcoming US-ROK Alliance Challenges: Trade, Technology, and China
Featured Speakers:
David Feith
Patrick M. Cronin
Ely Ratner
Trevor Wagener
Matt Mowers
17
November 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Overcoming US-ROK Alliance Challenges: Trade, Technology, and China
Join Hudson Institute for a conversation with David Feith, Patrick M. Cronin, Ely Ratner, Trevor Wagener, and Matt Mowers on these challenges. The discussion will consider Wagener’s recent Computer and Communications Industry Association report, The KFTC’s Uneven Hand, which examines disparities in South Korea’s competition enforcement against American, Korean, and Chinese companies.
Featured Speakers:
David Feith
Patrick M. Cronin
Ely Ratner
Trevor Wagener
Matt Mowers
18
November 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Rebuilding the Arsenal of Freedom and Reindustrializing America
Featured Speakers:
Congressman Mike Rogers
Nadia Schadlow
18
November 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Rebuilding the Arsenal of Freedom and Reindustrializing America
Join House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (AL-03) for a fireside discussion with Senior Fellow Nadia Schadlow on Congress’s role in revitalizing America’s defense industrial base.
Featured Speakers:
Congressman Mike Rogers
Nadia Schadlow
19
November 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Peace Through Strength: How Reagan’s Military Buildup Won the Cold War
Featured Speakers:
Roger Zakheim
Nadia Schadlow
19
November 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Peace Through Strength: How Reagan’s Military Buildup Won the Cold War
Join Hudson Institute for a conversation with Senior Fellow Nadia Schadlow and Roger Zakheim, director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, to discuss Peace Through Strength and what President Reagan’s buildup can teach US policymakers today.
Featured Speakers:
Roger Zakheim
Nadia Schadlow
Related Research
Caption
A one Euro coin is seen on August 31, 2026, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, in front of the city’s banking district skyline. (Getty Images)
Caption
British Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey leaves 11 Downing Street carrying the traditional red budget box ahead of presenting the Labour government's 2026 Autumn Budget to the House of Commons in London, United Kingdom, on October 28, 2026. (Getty Images)
Caption
Construction of the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Arizona semiconductor manufacturing complex in Phoenix, Arizona, on February 1, 2026. (Getty Images)
