Sen Pryor Calls on FCC to Reform Costly Lifeline Program

Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reform the Lifeline program, which provides basic telephone service to low-income and rural Americans. According to recent reports, nearly half of the current Lifeline recipients have not been properly certified to participate in the program. In February, the FCC announced that it eliminated $200 million in Lifeline waste, fraud, and abuse. While Sen Pryor commended these efforts, he urged the FCC to take bolder steps to improve effectiveness and efficiency and stop the explosive growth of the program.