Farm Group Backs TracFone on Clarifying FCC Lifeline Mobile Broadband 'Port Freeze'
National Grange endorsed TracFone's bid to clarify an FCC Lifeline "port freeze" rule, which is "being used to limit access to true broadband service and broadband-suitable devices" (see 1701230039). The farm group said mobile service can help bridge the rural…
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connectivity gap, but it requires "meaningful broadband access, not a standard cellular telephone" suitable for just phone and text service. "Lifeline providers should offer true broadband access in conformance with the service standards" in the FCC's 2016 order, National Grange told the FCC in a letter posted Thursday in docket 11-42. "Those standards are not met with a 'feature phone' and especially not one purporting to 'provide' 500 MB of mobile broadband data (while really offering 10 MB along with Wi-Fi access, where Wi-Fi is available) -- the minimum service standard for broadband data codified in the Commission's rules. ... To meet these needs and to close this gap, we believe the port freeze rule must be clarified, so that companies are required to provide meaningful broadband Internet which fully meets the minimum service standards." Sprint and two consumers also backed TracFone's request, but Telrite voiced concern (see 1703020059 and 1703030025). Earlier this week, the Leadership Council on Civil and Human Rights cited concern about FCC revocation of nine Lifeline broadband provider designations. In a letter asking for a meeting with Chairman Ajit Pai, the group also cited concerns about FCC policy on joint sale agreements and media ownership, and on prison phone rates.