Lifeline Delegation Discusses Concerns with Lifeline Proceeding

A group of direct service providers, advocates, public interest groups and a Lifeline subscriber met separately with advisors to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Pai, Commissioner Rosenworcel and her advisor, advisors to Commissioners Starks, Carr and O’Rielly, and Wireline Competition Bureau staff on April 18, 2019 to discuss the impacts of the 2017 Lifeline proposals and to request the FCC terminate the proceeding. They claimed the FCC’s 2017 proceeding has created uncertainty in the Lifeline program by proposing to eliminate large classes of Lifeline providers from the program and restrict eligible recipients’ ability to participate by imposing a co-pay and arbitrary budget cap. They also requested the return of the Lifeline broadband provider designation and a return to the 2016 Modernization Order, and suggested the FCC review several implementation decisions in the California Lifeline program for possible incorporation into the federal program.