Under Julius Genachowski's leadership, the FCC has been keen on incentivizing companies to build out broadband data service to underserved rural areas that aren't profitable enough to be served without subsidy. To do that, the agency has wanted to modernize the so-called Universal Service Fund — historically used to build out telephone service to the same areas — which is clearly a relic of a bygone era. After working on a plan for most of the year, Genachowski has just announced that he's put together a plan that would fix the USF and spur the first new buildouts in 2012 with "universal" broadband on tap for the US by the end of the decade. He says he plans on circulating the plan for a vote among the FCC's commissioners by the end of the month, but seeing how the entire board has already voiced support for USF reform, it'll likely sail through to approval.