The Universal Service Fund (USF) was created in 1997 by the United States Federal Communications Commission. The Communications Act of 1934 stated that all people in the United States shall have access to "rapid, efficient, nationwide ... communications service with adequate facilities at reasonable charges".  The fund is used to help promote the availability of quality telecommunications services at reasonable and affordable rates while increasing the access to these services throughout the nation. The fund also helps to promote availability of such services to all different types of consumers, including those with low income, within rural areas, and high cost areas. The fund also helps to provide these areas with rates which are comparable to the national average. The 1996 Telecommunications Act stated that all telecommunication service providers be responsible for contributing to the fund in some equitable and nondiscriminatory manner. Prior to the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Universal Service Fund (USF) operated as a mechanism by which interstate long distance carriers were assessed to subsidize telephone service to low-income households and high-cost areas. The act also made the service providers help advance universal service to all schools, classrooms, health care providers and libraries.