What is "universal service" and how is it funded?

One of the goals of U.S. and California telecommunications policies has been to try to achieve "universal service." That means providing access to affordable telephone service to everyone in the country, including customers with low income, those who are disabled, or customers living in rural areas where the small number of customers scattered over great distances makes it expensive to provide telephone service. Programs to achieve this goal are supported by surcharges on phone service.