Earlier today the Federal Communications Commission temporarily waived the requirement that consumers seeking to qualify for the Lifeline program based on their income must provide at least three consecutive months of income documentation. The following may be attributed to Kevin Taglang of the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society:

As millions shelter in place for their own health and that of their communities, Benton welcomes the FCC’s move to ease burdens on the newly unemployed. In the emergency, the FCC must act quickly to get as many people connected as possible and today’s action is a step in the right direction. The FCC should follow up by ensuring everyone who files for unemployment is automatically enrolled in Lifeline and benefit from a reduction in their communications bill. The Commission should also expand Lifeline to provide a $50/month subsidy for broadband service.

Lifelines are necessary for survival during an emergency. The FCC should create and sustain as many connections as it can.

 

The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people in the U.S. have access to competitive, High-Performance Broadband regardless of where they live or who they are. We believe communication policy - rooted in the values of access, equity, and diversity - has the power to deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities.

---

For subscribe/unsubscribe info, please email headlinesATbentonDOTorg