FCC Extends Pause of Lifeline Voice Phase-Out and Mobile Data Changes

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau extended, for an additional year, the waiver pausing both the phase-out of Lifeline support for voice-only services and the increase in Lifeline minimum service standards for mobile broadband data capacity. Without this decision, support for services that meet only the voice minimum service standard, which currently stands at $5.25 per month, would be eliminated in most areas on December 1, 2024. This action occurs at a time when the marketplace for affordable broadband services is undergoing significant changes as a result of the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program. This action will avoid any changes that could potentially result in the disruption of communications for Lifeline subscribers and will also provide the Commission additional time to consider the data found in the ACP Transparency Data Collection and Future of USF Report, which will help inform future FCC decisions on supporting voice-only service and setting Lifeline minimum service standards.