Lifeline/Low-Income Consumers

We encourage the Federal Communications Commission to take a broad, meaningful look at broadband deployment as it relates to its use and to investigate data that demonstrate low-income neighborhoods lack fiber infrastructure. We reiterate that the FCC should reaffirm its 2019 Broadband Deployment Report conclusion that fixed and mobile broadband services are complementary, not substitutes for each other. The FCC’s Broadband Deployment Report and Form 477 data collection must also incorporate key

The House Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a hearing entitled Empowering and Connecting Communities Through Digital Equity and Internet Adoption.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Federal Communications Commission alerted Lifeline carriers, beneficiaries, and the public to the potential for widespread carrier non-compliance with the Lifeline usage rule. The Advisory provides examples of usage rule violations the OIG has encountered in its ongoing investigations of Lifeline carriers, including reimbursements sought for subscriber accounts that have never had any qualifying usage.

New America's Open Technology Institute urged the Federal Communications Commission to abandon a cynical set of proposals that would weaken the Lifeline program and jeopardize consumer privacy.

Free Press condemned the Federal Communications Commission for waging war on the poor as the agency moved forward with a proceeding to deny essential broadband and telephone subsidies to low-income people. 

For nearly 35 years, the Lifeline program has provided discounts on phone service for qualifying low-income consumers. Over the years, the program has been reformed to include other critical communications services, including wireless and broadband. On Jan 27, a new set of changes, adopted back in Oct, will go into effect while the public gets to weigh in on additional proposals to reform the program. All month, we've been publishing articles on broadband adoption. For many people who haven't yet started using broadband internet access service, cost is a major obstacle.

On Aug 22, 2019, Sen Jon Tester (D-MT) wrote to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai expressing concern about the FCC's proposal to establish a cap on the overall Universal Service Fund (USF) budget and combine the E-rate and Rural Health Care programs under a single sub-cap.

On Oct 31, 2019, Rep Jennifer González-Colón (D-PR) wrote to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai about how the Puerto Rico Telecommunications Bureau (PRTB) filed a waiver request to suspend the requirement that carriers use the National Verifier eligibility determination system for the Lifeline communication services until the new verification program proves operations. The FCC denied the waiver request, and Rep González-Colón, while ultimately supporting the purpose of the National Verifier, urged for reconsideration from the FCC and approve the waiver request. 

For years, low-income households have been able to get cheap cell service and even free smartphones via the US government-funded Lifeline Assistance program. One provider, Assurance Wireless, offers a free Android device along with free data, texts and minutes. It all sounds ideal for those who don’t have the money to splash on fancy Apple or Google phones.