The FCC Has Made It Harder for Native Americans to Afford Phone Service

The federal government is going to make it even more difficult for people on Tribal Lands to be connected to the wider world. In fact, most Native Americans who were counting on the Federal Communications Commission to continue with policies that many tribal communities were counting on to bring more service to far-flung tribal lands may see even cell service reduced. The FCC's commissioners voted 3-2 (split on party lines between the three Republicans and two Democrats) to make deep cuts to the Lifeline Program, which provides discounted telephone and internet service to low-income Americans, including many Native Americans. Begun in the Reagan administration, it gives a discount of up to about $9 a month to Americans who make less than 150 percent of the federal poverty level. Although it doesn’t sound like much, it means that some carriers simply provide the service at no charge. And, tribal members receive an even deeper discount, up to $34 a month, to obtain essential phone service or to provide basic internet connectivity. For the poor, that matters a lot. The Lifeline decision will make many people’s lives demonstrably harder. The ruling will cut off Indians not living in “rural tribal lands” from receiving an enhanced $25 monthly discount, bar cellphone resellers from offering the service, and places a cap on Lifeline services to all low-income Americans. After the vote, Native Americans who need a phone to call 9-1-1, apply for work, or talk with health care providers or teachers will have a much more difficult time obtaining sometimes life-saving telephone service.