FCC Should Maintain Full Level of Support for Lifeline Voice Services, Say Stakeholders
Multiple stakeholders are asking the FCC not to phase down Lifeline support for voice services under its USF program. The requests came in comments that were due Wednesday and posted through Thursday. They were in response to a joint petition by CTIA and others and a July 1 public notice in docket 11-42 (see 1907010055).
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The FCC revised its Lifeline minimum standards last week despite the open petition (see 1907260035), imposing the fixed broadband minimum for mobile at 20 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps up, with some exceptions, effective Dec. 1. The notice didn't mention a phased-in reduction in monthly voice-only support. Because of the comment and reply process in response to the CTIA petition, the minimum service standards are still under review.
In joint comments posted Wednesday, Access Humboldt, The Greenlining Institute, NAACP, Public Knowledge and others stressed the need for no-cost voice services for low-income consumers. "As we confront another hurricane season, the importance of full financial support for voice-only service which permits people to access 911 and post-emergency services continues to be glaringly apparent," they said. They cited the loss of life after hurricanes Maria and Irma because of the lack of communications access. "Lifeline consumers should not be driven off the program simply because shifts in federal policy have begun to destabilize the program," they said. They asked the Wireline Bureau to pause a proposed Lifeline mobile broadband minimum service standard at 2 GB per month until a Lifeline marketplace study is complete next year. Stakeholders fear implementing the new service standards would drive up costs for voice-only services.
The National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates said demand for voice-only Lifeline service remains strong, is classified as an essential service "and should be fully supported through the Lifeline program." In a recent resolution, NASUCA reaffirmed its position that Lifeline support for voice services should not decrease as otherwise scheduled by regulation by $2 a month in December and annually thereafter.
National Grange said it urges the FCC to maintain support for voice services in the Lifeline program at the Dec. 1, 2018, levels.
The National Association of American Veterans said changes to the Lifeline support in voice services "will have harmful consequences for thousands of low-income households, including households whose members include veterans, who rely on that important program."