TracFone Says Study's MVNO Findings Undercut FCC Lifeline Plan, Existing Standards

report by Duke University economics professor Michelle Connolly, a former FCC chief economist, be included in Lifeline dockets. The report was underwritten by T-Mobile. TracFone called attention to a Connolly statement: "Higher income households tend to have subscriptions to both fixed broadband and wireless telephony/broadband, while younger adults, non-whites, and lower-income households are more likely to exclusively use wireless telephony/broadband to connect to the internet." TracFone said, "Many of those lower-income households are Lifeline-eligible and obtain their voice telephony and internet access service through the federal Lifeline program." It said the report illustrates why the prior FCC's minimum service standards need to be revisited "or at least applied in a flexible manner such that Lifeline consumers, rather than the Commission, determine how best to use" their service. It noted its broadband and voice "units" proposal. The National Lifeline Association and two tribes challenging FCC Lifeline tribal restrictions, including a ban on resellers receiving enhanced support, disputed commission allegations they inaccurately described comments from Smith Bagley, a facilities-based provider (here, here, in Pacer). U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Judges Judith Rogers, Thomas Griffith and Raymond Randolph are to hear oral argument Oct. 25 on National Lifeline Association v. FCC, (in Pacer) No. 18-1026: Rogers is a Democratic appointee; Griffith and Randolph are Republican appointees. A panel of three Democratic appointees stayed the FCC restrictions (see 1808100027).