Clyburn Urges FCC To Move Forward on Lifeline Overhaul
FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn urged on the FCC to move forward on overhaul of the USF Lifeline program. “The criticism that Lifeline does not serve its targeted audience because people already have phone service is a myth,” Clyburn said in a speech Monday at NTCA. “Too many consumers are struggling to maintain service, and we have a duty to respond.” FCC officials said Monday the agency appears headed toward an NPRM on a Lifeline overhaul, possibly this summer.
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Clyburn cited recent research from Pew, which found that 44 percent of low-income smartphone owners have had to cancel or suspend service because of financial difficulty. Pew also found that for those dependent on their smartphones to access the Internet, 48 percent had to cancel or shut off their phone for a period of time because of costs, Clyburn said.
“Without reforming Lifeline and closing the gap when it comes to affordability of essential advanced services, we risk building technology bridges to nowhere -- where the facilities are in the ground, but the consumer remains unable to afford to adopt,” she said. The comments build on Clyburn’s remarks in March during an appearance on C-SPAN’s The Communicators. Clyburn said then she hoped FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler would circulate a Lifeline overhaul order by the summer (see 1503130058).
Clyburn said she knows high-cost program reform is a priority at NTCA, but Lifeline is as important. “A rebooted, improved, 21st-century adoption program could be one of the best investments our government ever makes,” she said.
A lawyer who works on USF issues said one sticking point could be that the FCC has a multiyear backlog in dealing with pending applications by carriers that want to be eligible telecommunications carriers under the Lifeline program. “My sense is Lifeline is all bollocksed up,” the lawyer. “Things still aren’t moving” so it’s difficult to make any changes that could make the program larger, the lawyer said.
"There are many things on which Commissioner Clyburn and I differ, but I have long supported a well functioning Lifeline program,” said Randolph May, president of the Free State Foundation. “Obviously, it's important that the program be run in an efficient manner that is as free as possible from abuse. But at least the Lifeline program is targeted to providing communications services to low income persons truly in need, and these persons tend to depend on wireless access more than those higher up the income scale. I'd prefer to see economizing in other areas of the USF program, such as the high-cost and schools and libraries funds, which, frankly, are less targeted to demonstrated needs."
Clyburn also asked NTCA members to provide information to the FCC as the agency tackles rural call competition issues. “While we gather and analyze data, we need to continue to hear from you,” she said. The FCC posted the text of the remarks.