FCC Updates Lifeline Minimum Standards

The Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau announces the updated standard levels for speed and usage allowances for Lifeline-supported services as required by the 2016 Lifeline Modernization Order. The Bureau specifically announces the newly calculated minimum service standards for fixed broadband. It also reminds providers of the updated minimum service standards for mobile broadband and mobile voice service, as established in the FCC’s rules. These standards will take effect on December 1, 2017. Finally, the Bureau announces that the budget for federal universal service support for the Lifeline program for calendar year 2018 will be $2,279,250,000. Beginning December 1, 2017, the Lifeline minimum service standard for fixed broadband speed will be 15 Mbps downstream and 2 Mbps upstream.