On March 2, the Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau sought comments on a request for consideration filed by the Benton Foundation and many other public interest groups of the decision to deny nine companies from participating in the FCC’s Lifeline program which makes telecommunications services – including broadband – more affordable for people with low incomes. The following statement may be attributed to Benton Director of Policy Amina Fazlullah:
Today’s action by the Wireline Competition Bureau is a welcome step in the right direction. We strongly urge the Commission to move forward with implementing the modernization of the Lifeline program so that our nation’s most vulnerable are connected to the opportunities made possible by broadband. Every day that the FCC delays in implementing Lifeline is another day veterans, rural students, people with disabilities, and other low-income people are left waiting in the digital desert.