House to consider blocking Lifeline program

Lawmakers are set to vote June 21 on a bill that would block low-income consumers from getting a federal subsidy for mobile phone and wireless broadband plans.House Republican leadership will offer the End Taxpayer Funded Cell Phones Act on the evening of June 21. The bill blocks the Federal Communications Commission’s Lifeline program from funding mobile carriers providing either voice or data service.

The bill will be considered under suspension of the rules, a procedural move requiring a two-thirds majority to pass the bill. Democrats have generally been opposed to any efforts to limit the program. Conservatives have long portrayed the program as a handout, arguing the program is a target for abuse and fraud. Senior Republican FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai has recently been rolling out the results of his office’s inquiry into what he says is significant fraud on the part of carriers who benefit from the subsidies.