FCC Making Communications More Just for More People in More Places

The Federal Communications Commission heard reports on the agency’s efforts to ensure that everyone, including the most vulnerable populations, can stay connected to modern communications. These initiatives paid close attention to victims and survivors of domestic violence, those experiencing mental health crises, and incarcerated persons and their families. The presentation summarized the important changes and new programs that helped people overcome debilitating isolation, offered new pathways for people to seek help when facing mental health struggles, and advanced broadband technologies to meet people where they are. These efforts included:

  • Rapid Implementation of the Martha Wright-Reed Act: The Act gave the FCC new authority to establish meaningful and reasonable limits on the costs of phone and video calls for incarcerated persons
  • Expansion of 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: In addition to phone calls, the service now accommodates text messages, which is critical to making this resource helpful for young people and people who can’t freely communicate over the phone.
  • Independent Phone Connections for Victims of Domestic Violence: The Safe Connections Act allowed the agency to require mobile phone providers to separate lines upon request within 48 hours to eliminate the ability of the abuser to access the survivor’s information.
  • Closing the Homework Gap: Broadband is now more readily available for students and teachers and library patrons through the extension of Wi-Fi hotspot lending programs, the expansion of Wi-Fi on school buses for rural students, and targeted E-Rate program support for Tribal areas.

FCC Making Communications More Just for More People in More Places