Rural and High Cost Program In the United States, a program that subsidizes basic telephone serv- ice in high-cost areas of the United States and its territories.The Rural and High Cost Program is one of four programs established by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, supported by the Universal Service Fund (USF), and administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). See also Telecommunications Act of 1996, USAC, and USF. 74570c19.qxd 9/12/07 12:41 AM Page 425 |