To Bridge the Digital Divide or Not…That Is the Question as the FCC Cut Back Its Lifeline Program

Since Chairman Ajit Pai took over the leadership of the Federal Communications Commission, he has emphasized that one of his main goals has been to “close the digital divide and bring the benefits of the Internet age to all Americans.” So it comes as no surprise that the FCC has taken several measures recently to overhaul the Lifeline program under the tagline “Bridging the Digital Divide for Low-Income Consumers.” The November changes to the Lifeline Program were mainly cutbacks; reducing available subsidies, as well as limiting eligible participants and carriers.

The question, however, is whether these changes will achieve these goals or if the cutbacks will be more detrimental to those once eligible subscribers who will no longer be able to benefit from the Lifeline program. The conflicting views of the Commissioners come as no surprise with Commissioners Michael O’Reilly and Brendan Carr supporting these measures, while Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Mignon Clyburn oppose. To express her disagreement Commissioner Clyburn stated that, “This proposal does nothing to make the lives of those who qualify better, and no amount of Orwellian doublespeak in the docket’s title will suggest otherwise. Make no mistake: this is will the Widen the Digital and Opportunity Divide item.”