FCC Announces Updated Lifeline Minimum Service Standards and Indexed Budget Amount

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau announces updated minimum service standards for Lifeline-supported services as required by the 2016 Lifeline Order. Absent action, beginning December 1, 2021, the Lifeline minimum service standard for mobile broadband data capacity will increase to 18 GB per month pursuant to the calculations set out in the FCC’s rules and the 2016 Lifeline Order. The Lifeline minimum service standard for mobile voice service will remain unchanged, at 1000 minutes per month. The Lifeline minimum service standard for fixed broadband data usage will be 1229 GB per month. The indexed budget for federal universal service support for the Lifeline program for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2021 was $2,428,227,364,15 and the indexed budget for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2022 will be $2,457,366,093.