Resellers Urge Pai to Nix Lifeline Ban Plans, Allow Voice/Data Options, Ensure API, Database Access
Wireless resellers pressed the FCC to back off a proposal to ban resellers from the Lifeline USF program. "The consensus is that the reseller ban would not bridge the digital divide by spurring additional facilities deployment or more affordable services,"…
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said National Lifeline Association (NaLA) filings on meetings of reseller representatives with Chairman Ajit Pai and an aide to Commissioner Mike O'Rielly, posted Thursday in docket 17-287 (here, here). "A reseller ban would harm consumers by forcing more than 7 million or roughly 70 percent of all Lifeline subscribers to find a new Lifeline service provider (including about 1.3 million veterans), and in many cases, leaving the nation’s most vulnerable consumers with no affordable wireless or wireline service options." NaLA said the FCC should allow low-income "consumers to choose for themselves among options of voice and data, including bundles," rather than mandating "family-sized service plans" in escalating minimum service standards and phasing out voice-only support. The group pressed for ensuring a national verifier implements an application programming interface for providers and there is access to key databases for determining consumer eligibility.