Voucher System Would Pose Challenge to Disabled, Advocates Tell FCC
Several changes to the Lifeline program proposed by commenters in the FCC proceeding would make it "significantly more challenging" for the disabled to participate in Lifeline, said disability advocates in an ex parte filing posted Thursday in docket 11-42. The…
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advocates "strongly oppose" the use of a voucher system for the administration and distribution of program subsidies, they said. A voucher system would require recipients to physically visit or otherwise actively contact a provider to be able to continue receiving service on a monthly basis, said the American Foundation for the Blind, Arc, Hearing Loss Association of America, Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and a few other groups. Such a requirement would impose unnecessary burdens on the significant segment of current program participants who face various physical, cognitive and communications challenges, the groups said. If the commission were to adopt the use of vouchers, many qualified recipients with disabilities may be at the risk of losing this vital and affordable communications link, the filing said. "We therefore urge the Commission to maintain the current system of automatic deposit of benefits on a consumer’s Lifeline phone and ensure that the benefits remain easy to use and maintain for consumers with disabilities."