To amend section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 to provide that funds received as universal service contributions and the universal service support programs established pursuant to that section are not subject to certain provisions of title 31, United States Code, commonly known as the Antideficiency Act.

H.R. 278 would exempt the Federal Communications Commission’s Universal Service Fund (USF) from certain requirements of the Antideficiency Act, a law that generally prevents government agencies from spending or committing funds they do not yet have on hand. By providing this exemption, the bill aims to ensure that USF programs—which provide subsidies for rural healthcare, low-income households, and internet access for schools and libraries—can continue to operate and distribute funds without interruption. For the average citizen, this measure is intended to prevent administrative delays in the delivery of telecommunications services and infrastructure projects that rely on these federal support programs.